WEATHERFORD, Okla. - (RV) Southern Arkansas allowed itself to keep pace with the top of the Great American Conference standings courtesy of a three-game road sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma this past weekend in Weatherford. The Muleriders won 16-7 in the opener and rallied for an 8-6 win in game two, before receiving an impressive effort in the circle by Morgan McAlexander who shutout the Bulldogs in a complete-game performance for a 6-0 victory in the finale.

The performance earned the Muleriders a berth into May's league tournament championship and improved its overall record to 31-12 with a 19-8 mark in GAC play; three games back of the league leader with six games to go.

In the opener, Southern Arkansas erupted for 16 hits behind a four-hit day from Alyssa Miller and two-hit days from five other players. Regan Dillon led SAU with four RBI all which she earned on a third-inning grand slam as part of a 12-run frame by the Muleriders. Kamryn Moctezuma and Emily Shipman both followed with three RBI. Moctezuma doubled and homered, while Shipman doubled and tripled. Seven players scored twice and all nine players crossed home in the game one win. Sydney Ward and Maci McJunkins split the effort in the circle with the latter earning the win allowing just two hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.

The Muleriders swept the day with a come-from-behind win in game two. SAU led 4-3 through three innings, but the Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead after four innings of play. In the fifth, Mariah Hamilton blasted a two-run home run to push SAU up 6-5 and the Muleriders would add single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to back Baylie Thornhill's complete game effort that included seven strikeouts.

Hamilton led SAU with three hits in game three, while Miller delivered two and scored twice. That was more than enough offensive support for McAlexander who scattered five hits and a single walk to fan a dozen batters in a complete-game shutout of the Bulldogs. She allowed just a single hit through the first three innings which included striking out the side in the third and seventh innings. McAlexander received some solid defense behind her as the Muleriders turned inning-ending double plays in the fourth and fifth.

Seven of SAU's 30 runs were scored in the first inning and 14 of the 30 were pushed across in the third inning of the series.

Southern Arkansas returns to action on Tuesday, April 18 for a midweek doubleheader with Delta State. First-pitch from Dawson Field inside the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com