Monticello, Ark. – The top-ranked SAU Softball team returned to action for the first time in over a month today against rivals Arkansas-Monticello, and the Muleriders were able to take game one before dropping game two on an error.

Game one started off with a bang as leadoff hitter Laina Suesue homered to immediately put the Muleriders on the board.

The senior catcher doubled the scoring in her next at-bat with her second solo homerun of the game. On the season, Suesue is responsible for three of the six Mulerider homeruns hit this season.

Maeson Grace drove in a run with a double in the fourth inning and after the Blossoms pulled a run back in the bottom of the same inning, Suesue scored for the third time in the game, crossing the plate courtesy of a Faith Otts sacrifice fly.

Victoria Taylor picked up her third win of the season, striking out eight batters in five innings of work. Elisa Favela came in for the final two innings, striking out four and picking up a save in the process.

Game two started off in a similar fashion for the Muleriders as game one, with Christina Hill scoring in the first inning via a Sarah Evans sacrifice fly.

The hosts strung together a string of singles to tie the score and in the bottom of the seventh inning, pushed across the winning run on an Evans error.

The Muleriders are 3-1 on the season; they return to action on Friday in Arkadelphia to take on Ouachita Baptist.