Russellville, Ark. – The GAC announced their softball player and pitcher of the week award winners to start the 2021 season off and Sarah Evans receives the accolade for the first time in her career.

The award comes after the Muleriders put up 29 runs in a pair of games against Delta State on January 30^th, with the Bryant native driving in six runs, four of which came on one swing of the bat in the first inning of game two, tying the game at 4-4. The Muleriders, who won game one 17-0, would eventually win game two by a score of 12-5.

Evans went 4-7 from the plate for the pair of games. She drew a walk, making her weekly on-base percentage .625 and her slugging percentage was a tidy 1.000.

In the field, the shortstop took care of all four attempts hit her way, recording a pair of both assists and putouts.

This marks the fourth year in a row a Mulerider has been named player/pitcher of the week to open the season.

Evans is the 19^th different Mulerider to be named player of the week under head coach Jason Anderson and this marks the 51^st time a Mulerider receives a conference weekly honor under Anderson.

Evans and the Muleriders are back in action this weekend as they host part of the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial in conjunction with Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist. Their opponents for the weekend are: Mississippi College, #5 Angelo State, Maryville, RV Texas A&M-Kingsville, St. Mary's (TX) and Christian Brothers.