ALVA, Okla. – Despite dropping the final game of the regular season this afternoon, the Southern Arkansas University softball team is still guaranteed at least a share of the Great American Conference Championship, and could win the title outright if Arkansas Tech falls to Southeastern Oklahoma this afternoon. The Muleriders finish the regular season with a 35-15 (26-7 GAC) record after falling 8-7 to Northwestern Oklahoma State.
The Rangers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as they plated a run on a single. SAU responded with four runs in the top of the second inning as
Tiare Lee doubled through the right side to score
Alyssa Miller who reached on a fielder's choice and
Mariah Hamilton who scored after reaching on a walk.
Jaxynn Dyson would answer Lee with a double of her own that scored Lee and
Jade Miller who reached on an error by the SS to lead 4-1. NWOSU responded with three runs on three hits to tie the game at four apiece.
After two scoreless innings by both teams, SAU posted two runs in top of the fifth inning.
Gracie King and
Taylor Murphy both singled to start the inning, followed by a third single in a row from Hamilton that scored King to put SAU up by one. The Muleriders took a 6-4 lead on a Lee groundout that scored
Viviana Zarzoza. The lead did not last long as NWOSU put up three runs in the bottom of the inning on three hits to lead 7-6. SAU would score one run in the sixth inning on a
Madison Miller double that scored Dyson, but the Rangers would score a run of their own to keep the one run lead at 8-7, followed by a scoreless top of the seventh from SAU.
Lee led the Muleriders with three RBI on two hits. Murphy finished with three hits, while M. Miller and Hamilton both finished with two hits and one RBI apiece. Dyson finished with two RBI. The Muleriders used three different pitchers in the contest as they all went 2.0 innings.
Sydney Ward got the start and allowed four hits and four runs.
Baylie Thornhill relieved ward and allowed two runs on three hits.
Kiana Pogroszewski took the loss as she allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four.
SAU will now turn their attention to the GAC tournament which is set to be played next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Bentonville. SAU has the potential to be the No. 1 seed if Arkansas Tech loses to Southeastern Oklahoma today. If ATU wins, SAU will be the No. 2 seed and SAU and ATU will be GAC Co-Champs.
