MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The No. 23 Mulerider Softball squad takes one last neutral site trip as Southern Arkansas takes off to Bethany and Edmond, Oklahoma for the Raising Cane's Softball Festival hosted by Central Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene.
The Muleriders are scheduled to battle it out for six games over three days against teams such as Fort Hays State (Fri. Feb. 16; Bethany, Okla.), Northeastern State (Fri. Feb. 16; Bethany, Okla.), Nebraska-Kearney (Sat. Feb. 17; Edmond, Okla.), Central Missouri (Sat. Feb. 17; Bethany, Okla.), No. 8 Rogers State (Sun. Feb. 18; Edmond, Okla.), and No. 11 Central Oklahoma (Sun. Feb. 18; Edmond, Okla.).

Southern Arkansas' pitching room has shown plenty of promise thus far as they currently have a group ERA of 2.38 with only 27 runs allowed to the Muleriders 47. Senior Sydney Ward has led the charge for SAU in the circle as she has made four appearances with all her appearances being starts against teams like Delta State (4 innings played), Texas A&M-Kingsville (7.1 innings played), Drury (7 innings played), and Washburn (4 innings played).
As a team, the Muleriders are batting at a percentage of .275 with Regan Dillon leading the department as she has recorded a .448 batting average due to her 13 hits and eight extra base hits including five bombs. The sophomore has accounted for 31 total bases, 11 RBIs. Seven walks, and eight total runs. Dillon shows her dominance at the plate through her on-base and slugging percentage as she has accounted for a 1.069 slug and .568 on-base percentage.
Newcomer, America Rubio has had herself a significant start to her Mulerider career as she has recorded eight hits, four doubles, and two home runs off of 26 at-bats. Rubio has been responsible for batting in seven runners while also having am on-base percentage of .471.

Southern Arkansas is currently leading the nation in hit by pitches with 13 and also leads the conference in ERA, home runs (12 | 4^th nationally), home runs per game (1.33 | 12^th nationally), on-base percentage (.403), shutouts (3 | 5^th nationally), slugging percentage (.492), total runs, total sacrifice flies (4 | 13^th nationally), WHIP (1.17), and walks (42 | 9^th nationally).
 
Fort Hays State (4-0 | 0-0 MIAA)
The Tigers of Fort Hays State and the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas make their sixth acquaintance with each other as SAU currently leads the Tigers with four wins to one. The first meeting between these two programs came in 2013 when FHSU earned their sole win against the Muleriders in Bentonville by a score of 7-0. Since then, Southern Arkansas has won four-straight against the Tigers by scores of 13-0/5 (2016), 5-1/9 (2017), 3-2 (2022), and 8-2 (2023). All six contests between the two have and will be taken in a neutral location.
Fort Hays is currently 4-1 as they have defeated Midwestern State (5-4), Northwestern Oklahoma State (9-1/5), Southwestern Oklahoma State (4-0), and Cameron (1-0). FHSU's one loss comes to Oklahoma Baptist by a score of 2-5.
Prior to playing the Bison, the Tigers are currently the top team in the nation for staff ERA as they have allowed a percentage of just 0.27. The Tigers batting average sits at .350 (17^th nationally | 2^nd MIAA). They are also second their league in shutouts with two (12^th nationally) and rank first in the conference in WHIP with 0.77 (2^nd nationally).
 
Northeastern State (3-5 | 0-0 MIAA)
This meeting will mark the 11^th matchup between the Riverhawks and Muleriders as Northeastern State holds an 8-2 advantage over Southern Arkansas. The majority of NESU's wins against SAU came prior to the Great American Conference forming as from 2001-2014, the Riverhawks won the first seven contests. Since then, Southern Arkansas has been 2-1 against NESU.
Northeastern State is sitting at 3-5 with wins against Arkansas-Monticello (4-0), Henderson State (8-1), and Ouachita Baptist (16-13). The Riverhawks have dropped ballgames to Southwestern Oklahoma State (0-1), Harding (1-5), UT-Tyler (1-9/6), Wayne State (1-9), and Truman State (17-18). NESU has lost their last four outings.
The Riverhawks currently lead the MIAA in home runs as they have recorded eight (17^th nationally) so far with three ballgames scoring eight or more runs. Northeastern State is second in the MIAA in double plays with five so far (9^th nationally), which makes them average 0.62 per game (19^th nationally | 9^th MIAA) NESU is fifth in the nation (2^nd MIAA) when recording walks as they have accounted for 45 walks.
 
Nebraska-Kearney (3-2 | 0-0 MIAA)
The Lopers and the Muleriders have met just twice before, both going in Southern Arkansas' favor by scores of 4-2 and 6-5.
Nebraska-Kearney has started their season 3-2 with wins against David & Elkins (W.V.) (4-1), Minnesota St.-Moorhead (8-7), and Western New Mexico (5-2). The Lopers have gained their losses from contests with Hawaii-Hilo (1-5) and East Central (2-3).
Prior to losing to the Tigers, UNK led the MIAA in stolen base per game by averaging 3 bases stolen per game while having stolen 12 bags. The Lopers were third in the MIAA in doubles per game with 1.5 averaged, but have accounted for six total doubles. Nebraska-Kearney ranked fifth in the MIAA for triples per game by averaging 0.25 with a single triple to their merit.
 
Central Missouri (2-2 | 0-0)
The Jennies and the Muleriders would meet for the seventh occasion. UCM took the first matchup between the two in 2009 by a score of 3-2. Southern Arkansas defeated the Jennies in four-consecutive contests by scores of 9-2, 8-4, 14-5, and 1-0. Central Missouri earned their second win against SAU the last time they met in 2021 by a final of 2-1.
Central Missouri opened their season up at the Alvy early Memorial Classic last weekend with a loss to Truman State (3-6), but followed by a win against Illinois-Springfield (5-4). On day two of the tournament, the Jennies fell to Missouri S&T (4-5/8) and then defeated the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-2).
UCM currently leads the MIAA in strikeout-to-walk ratio with 4.33 (10^th nationally) while also being second in the league in triples per game with 0.75 (5^th nationally) off of three in four games. The Jennies average 2.5 stolen bags per game (18^th nationally | 4^th MIAA) having stolen 10 bases so far.
 
No. 8 Rogers State (7-3 | 0-0)
The Muleriders meet the Hillcats for the tenth time on Sunday as each team arrives to the occasion being ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top-25. SAU currently holds the series lead against Rogers State with help from two wins last May to knock the Hillcats out of the Central Regional while in Joplin, Missouri.
RSU, heading into the weekend, is 7-3 with wins against St. Mary's (8-2), Colorado Mesa (4-3), Midwestern State (2-1/9), Angelo State (6-3), Regis (2-0), Southern Nazarene (8-0/5), and Maryville (6-2). The Hillcats have suffered losses to St. Edward's (2-3/9), no. 16 Oklahoma Christian (3-5), and No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist (3-5).
Rogers State is the leader in the MIAA for total sacrifice bunts as they recorded six thus far (22^nd nationally). They are second in the league for being hit by pitches after having been tagged ten times (9^th nationally). The Hillcats are the third-best of the conference for fielding percentage with .973.
 
No. 11 Central Oklahoma (4-4 | 0-0)
The Bronchos and the Muleriders meet for the first time since game three of the Central Super Regional Tournament. Southern Arkansas defeated Central Oklahoma in game one by a score of 8-2, but would be followed by two Broncho wins to advance UCO and knock out SAU. Central Oklahoma currently lead the series up 8-5 with both teams splitting the last four contests 2-2.
UCO began 2024 at 4-4 with wins against Harding (10-1), No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist (5-2), Southern Nazarene (12-1/5), and Maryville (2-1). The Bronchos losses came from No. 22 Oklahoma Baptist (1-2), Augustana (1-2), Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-9), and No. 16 Oklahoma Christian (3-5).
The Bronchos are currently the number one team in the MIAA for fielding percentage with a .987 (6^th nationally). UCO is also top-ranked in the league for doubles per game as they average 1.88 per contest while also being second in the conference for total doubles with 15. They are third in the MIAA for double plays and double plays per game as they average 0.5 over the course of their eight competitions.
 
To keep up with the Muleriders in the Raising Cane's Softball Festival, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage