Weatherford, Okla. – The SAU Softball team, a team that has not held a lead atop of the GAC standing through the duration of the 2021 season, proved themselves to be Exhibit A to the idea that it doesn't matter how many laps you lead in a race, so long as you are the leader on the final lap.

Through their pair of wins today against Southwestern Oklahoma, combined with Harding's sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma this weekend, the Muleriders will only be on top of the standings for two days during the regular season; but the important part to note is that they are the final two days of the regular season, when it matters most.

This marks the third season in a row the Muleriders lay claim to the regular season championship; this means they will be the #1 seed in next week's tournament in Bentonville, where they have a first-round matchup with rivals Arkansas-Monticello.

The Muleriders started the scoring in game one right off the bat, with a double by senior Faith Otts knocking in the first run; fellow senior Christina Hill drove in a pair of runs later in the inning to make it 3-0.

A double steal by outfielders Maeson Grace and Alese Casper in the second inning pushed across another run for the visitors.

Makana Morton drove in a run, her seventh RBI of the season, on a single in the third inning.

The Bulldogs would score four times in the fifth inning to make it 5-4, chasing Mulerider starter Victoria Taylor from the circle.

The Muleriders would respond by scoring four times in both the sixth and the seventh innings; another Otts RBI single pushed a run across before Elisa Favela left the yard for the eighth time this season, a three-run shot over the centerfield fence.

The final runs scored in the seventh inning were through a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch, as well as a pair of runs scoring on a Sarah Evans RBI single.

Taylor picked up her 12^th win of the season, striking out 10 batters in 4.2 innings pitched, including the first six outs coming through strikeouts.

Landry Newgent pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Taylor, picking up her first save of the season. The southpaw only allowed one hit and struck out three Bulldogs.

The Muleriders started the scoring in the second inning of game two with a Hill solo homerun; the first baseman would drive in the second run of the game an inning later on a double.

A four-run fourth inning by the hosts saw them take the lead; the Muleriders would even up the game in the sixth inning courtesy of a Jaxynn Dyson triple and an Otts RBI single.

With the game tied at 4-all heading into the final frame, the Muleriders would go on to show why are they are simply built different, putting up a seven spot in the seventh inning.

An Evans RBI single would give the Muleriders the lead; the second baseman would score on a wild pitch a couple of batters later.

A fielder's choice pushed across another run before Otts and Favela hit back-to-back homeruns, with Otts' being a three-run shot and Favela's, a solo homerun.

The senior Favela would pick up the win in the circle as well, pitching a perfect two innings in relief of starter Sydney Wader; the Hawaiian struck out three en route to her fifth win of the season.

The Muleriders close the regular season tomorrow with a single game at noon against the Bulldogs.