BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A day after plating 25 runs on two dozen hits, (RV) Southern Arkansas relied heavily on its pitching as well as a super swing to cap the weekend as the Muleriders topped Pittsburg State 3-2 and walked off Southwest Baptist 1-0 on a blast off the bat of grad transfer Haley Nillen.

The pair of wins gives Southern Arkansas an unbeaten 9-0 start to the season which is the best beginning to a campaign since 2018.

Through three innings of play against the Bearcats in the final game of the weekend, the Muleriders registered a hit-by-pitch to Jaxynn Dyson in the first, a leadoff single by Ariana Rolle and a walk to Kamryn Moctezuma in the third as the lone base runners for SAU. A double play erased consecutive singles to start the fourth, SAU went down in order in the fifth and was unable to score Gracie King at second in the sixth before the fireworks in the seventh.

It took just one batter in the bottom half of the seventh to send SAU back down to South Arkansas unbeaten. In a pinch hit opportunity, Nillen hammered an offering from SBU's Emma Wood out to center field for her second pinch hit long ball of the season.

It was a masterful performance in the circle by Morgan McAlexander (2-0) who earned her second win by tossing a complete game two-hitter with eight strikeouts and just two walks. She erased four straight via K at one point as she faced three over the minimum.

King accounted for all three RBI in Sunday's first game as a first inning fielder's choice scored Moctezuma for the game's first run. In the third, King left the yard to straight away centerfield for a two-run blast to stake Mulerider starter Sydney Ward to a 3-0 lead through three innings.

Ward (5-0) earned her fifth win of the season as she scattered seven hits and two runs and let her defense work behind her as she forced six groundouts and seven fly outs of the 16 outs recorded during her time in the circle. Baylie Thornhill worked the final 1.2 innings striking out consecutive batters in a sixth inning that saw PSU plate two to pull within a run of tying the game at three.

In the opener, Emily Shipman collected two hits with a double, while Courtney Storey and Alyssa Miller both picked up base knocks. Shipman added a hit in the second game as did Rolle, while King led with two hits and one swiped bag.

SAU's attention turns to Oklahoma City next weekend where a five-game slate awaits at the GAC/MIAA Crossover. Among the opponents is defending National Champion Rogers State who the Muleriders meet on Saturday, February 18 at 10 a.m. For a full schedule of the weekend and for live coverage links, visit www.MuleriderAthletics.com