MAGNOLIA, Ark. - (RV) Southern Arkansas tossed the ball to its top two arms on Tuesday against Delta State and the duo of
Sydney Ward and
Baylie Thornhill delivered. Both starters went the distance in firing a shutout and each allowed only two hits in the process as the Muleriders claimed both ends of the midweek doubleheader against the Statesmen by scores of 7-0 and 4-0 at Dawson Field inside the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex. The victories push SAU's overall record to 33-12 and the Muleriders enter the weekend having won six straight games.
Ward earned her 16th win of the season and collected four strikeouts as she faced just three over the minimum. She received early run support as the Muleriders struck for three runs courtesy of a bases-clearing triple by
Kamryn Moctezuma.
Emily Shipman left the yard with a solo shot in the second and Moctezuma followed suit in the third for a 5-0 SAU lead. In the fourth, two more runs crossed a double by
Jaxynn Dyson.
Ward allowed a slow chopper that was beat at the bag at first for an infield single to the leadoff batter of the game, before retiring the Statesmen through the top of the fourth inning. She delivered a 1-2-3 frame in the sixth and then worked around runners at first and second in the seventh to preserve the shutout; her fourth of the season.
Thornhill picked up win No. 12 behind an eight-strikeout performance that also saw her face just three over the minimum. The right-hander allowed just one hit through the first three innings of action, before receiving her first bit of run support in the home half of the frame. Dyson reached on a fielding error that chased home an RBI and a groundout by
Courtney Storey put the Muleriders up 2-0 through three.
Thornhill was perfect in the fourth and fifth innings, pitched around a single and a walk with two outs, before working a quick seventh which included back-to-back strikeouts to end it.
The Muleriders' 11 runs came from 19 hits of which eight went for extra bases.
Ariana Rolle led with five hits, Shipman added four and Dyson and Moctezuma followed with three each. Dyson led with five RBI and Moctezuma added four. Shipman scored a team-high three runs.
Southern Arkansas is set to host Northwestern Oklahoma State in a Great American Conference series scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Magnolia. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com