ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – It was a tough Thursday afternoon for #8 Southern Arkansas as the squad suffered a 5-2 loss on the road at #22 Ouachita in the Muleriders' MIAA-GAC South Division opener. SAU moves to 15-4 overall, while the win improves the Tigers to 13-3 on the season and a commanding 2-0 in league play. The contest saw five nationally-ranked singles players and two nationally-ranked doubles pairs.
 
SAU dropped the doubles point with losses at the top two positions. #31 Santiago Kearney and Francisco Oliveira beat #3 Sander Jans and Marko Nikoliuk 6-1 at No. 1, while Fernando Doctors and Tobias Fuerschuss knocked off Sofiane Bah and Stuart Rehfuss 6-4 at No. 2.
 
In singles play, #19 Oliveira beat #43 Jans at No. 1 7-5, 6-3. #46 Kearney topped #56 Rehfuss at line two in a 6-3, 6-3 decision. The Muleriders were victorious at lines three and four with #18 Nikoliuk beating Doctors 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 at No. 3 and Ole Valkyser edging Fuerschuss 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 4.
 
Losses at No. 5 and No. 6 secured the match for OUA. Phil Exner beat Yuri Gondouin 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5, while Matias Parzajuk defeated Bah 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6.
 
The win is the first by Ouachita over SAU in four meetings in the latter's NCAA Era.
 
Southern Arkansas' final stretch of the season will decide the MIAA-GAC South Division Champion and seeding for the league tournament. The Muleriders will host Harding on Monday, April 11 before hitting the road to Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, April 22 to close out the regular season.