MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Behind quality starting pitching and key run support, (RV) Southern Arkansas took care of business in a big way over the weekend as the Muleriders swept Southeastern Oklahoma State to grab the No. 3 seed from the Savage Storm and run its overall win streak to a dozen games. SAU meets (6) Arkansas-Monticello in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville, Arkansas. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
It started in the circle for the Muleriders. In Saturday night's opener,
Sydney Ward went the distance, firing a four-hit, one-walk shutout with ten strikeouts. She received a two-run double off the bat of
Emily Shipman in the second inning, while a double steal of
Gracie King to second and
Ava Dunn to home and an RBI groundout by
Alyssa Miller in the sixth added more than enough insurance for Ward.
The Muleriders backed the game two start of
Baylie Thornhill with a two-run single up the middle by
Regan Dillon in the first inning. In the third, Dillon singled down the left field line for another run and in the fourth,
Jaxynn Dyson plated SAU's fourth run on a sacrifice fly. SOSU pushed across a lone run in the seventh before Thornhill induced a pair of soft pop outs to ensure the complete game effort. She earned win No. 14 allowing only five hits and a walk while fanning eight batters.
Ward worked the finale tossing another seven full innings scattering seven hits and two walks, while striking out five to earn win No. 20 of her sophomore season. Dyson singled in Miller in the third inning and a two-run homer from
Courtney Storey in the sixth inning provided much needed cushion for Ward as the Savage Storm managed a single two-out run in the seventh.
For the weekend, Ward tossed 14.0 innings with 15 strikeouts and only a single run allowed. Thornhill worked around six base runners in her 7.0 innings to pick up eight strikeouts.
At the plate, Dillon, Dyson and
Ariana Rolle all produced four hits and Miller followed with three. Shipman recorded half of SAU's four doubles. Dillon led with three RBI and Dyson, Shipman and Storey each added three. Dyson and Dunn scored twice.
