MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The final weekend home series of the season is upon #26/28 Southern Arkansas and fifth-year head coach Justin Pettigrew's Muleriders find themselves atop the Great American Conference standings, two games up on Arkansas Tech and Oklahoma Baptist, with six games remaining on the regular season docket. SAU plays host to bitter league rival Arkansas-Monticello on Friday and Saturday as the senior weekend series for the Muleriders holds heavy postseason implications. First pitch in Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field, while Saturday's twin bill is slated for a 2 p.m. start with the program's six senior student-athletes being honored pregame.
 
Southern Arkansas (24-10, 20-7 GAC) has locked up a GAC Tournament berth, while Arkansas-Monticello (17-15, 15-12 GAC) is currently tied for sixth, but only two games back of the No. 4 position in the standings; a spot that several teams are chasing as the top four will host the opening round of league's postseason party.
 
Since 2012, when the longtime adversaries both joined the GAC, the Muleriders lead the series 25-13, but have lost three of its past four in the series. UAM won the previous series in Magnolia which was played during the final weekend of April in 2019. During that time, SAU is 10-4 against the Weevils at home.
 
The Muleriders, which hold a 10-4 record at home this season and enter the final home stand of the campaign having won their past three games, carry one of the league's top offenses. Southern Arkansas leads the league in runs scored (281) and ranks second in slugging percentage (.514), doubles (77), home runs (48), and RBI (240). Despite having the league's sixth-most hits with 327 and seventh-highest batting average at .297, this year's club has proven that there's more to offensive production than "hitting".
 
Southern Arkansas leads the GAC in both walks (190) and hit-by-pitch (63), while only one other GAC team ranks in the top five in both. The Muleriders' current total in base-on-balls ranks seventh nationally, while the more than 60 plunkings that SAU has taken ranks 14^th in the country. In addition to reaching base, Southern Arkansas has been successful swiping bags as the club leads the GAC in stolen bases with 74 which ranks tenth nationally.
 
Three Muleriders are swinging north of .300 with seniors Kobe Morris and Austin Baker both hitting .380 or better. Both players have scored at least 40 runs lead by Baker's 42. Six players have scored at least 25 runs this season. The pair have combined for 99 hits with Morris' team-leading 50 including a team-high 18 extra base hits which is matched only by sophomore Brett McGee. Four other players have recorded at least 30 hits. Austin leads the team with a baker's dozen in the doubles department, while McGee's ten homeruns, 34 RBI and .664 slugging percentage pace the club. Baker's stolen 17 bags, Morris follows with 16 and sophomore Ty Manning rounds out the players with at least ten steals with 13.
 
Five players have recorded at least 20 walks this season led by McGee's 31 which ranks 12^th in Division II. Manning's 13 HBP ranks 16^th in the country. Both players' respective freebie totals lead the league.
 
On the mound, the Muleriders own a team-ERA of 4.29 and an opponent batting average of .253; both of which rank second in the GAC. The staff has logged a league-leading 281.0 innings pitched as 15 pitchers have taken to the hill so far this season. SAU has fanned 247 batters this season and allowed 149 walks in addition to surrendering a league-low in extra base hits with 76.
 
Senior Zach Smith owns a league-leading 69.1 innings pitched this season which includes a pair of complete games. Smith has struck out 54 batters; five back of sophomore Jacob Womack's team-leading 59. Womack is unbeaten in seven starts as he holds a 6-0 record. Womack and Smith both own an ERA under 3.70 with Womack's 3.28 leading the team and ranking third in the GAC, while Smith's ranks fifth.
 
Freshman Santos Sosa owns a 4-1 record in a team-leading ten relief appearances. Sosa carries a bullpen-best 2.59 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Sophomore Remy Bilodeau has split time this season with five starts and five relief appearances. He is 4-1 with a complete game and a save.
 
UAM enters with a team slash of .301/.387/.485. The club ranks around the middle of the league in multiple offensive categories. Jordan Johnson leads the team in batting average with the fourth-highest clip in the GAC at .398. His .770 slugging percentage is second in the GAC, while his nine home runs rank eighth.
 
As a pitching staff, the Weevils lead the league in strikeouts with 315 and rank second in saves with nine. The 253 hits allowed are a league low and the staff's .256 opponent batting average is the third-lowest in the GAC. Mason Philley leads the league in strikeouts with 73. River Hunt's 3.60 ERA ranks fourth in the conference and his .208 opponent batting average is second.