MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas finished a much-needed sweeping in Arkadelphia, Arkansas over the weekend as the 22^nd Muleriders defeated Henderson State in all three contests to claim their second series victory of the season and their second series sweep. SAU now prepares for a busy week as in-state rival Arkansas-Monticello enters Magnolia borders for the first of two Great American Conference Tuesday doubleheaders between the two foes.
 
The Muleriders have been dominant in many phases of the 2024 season. Southern Arkansas is currently the GAC leaders for home runs and home runs per outing after being responsible for 21 dingers and averaging 0.95 bombs per contest. Team 26's defense has been superb in the recent weeks as they also lead the league in earned run average and shutouts with an ERA of 2.17 and rank ninth in the nation for their seven shutouts thus far.
 
The 22^nd ranked team in the nation currently stands at second in the GAC for five separate categories. To start, the Muleriders are second in the league for their fielding percentage of .977, which is the 15^th best in the country. The Cotton Blossoms of UAM are first among the GAC for the category with a fielding percentage of .978 (7^th nationally). Staying with percentages, SAU is also second in the conference for a slugging percentage of .467. The squad sits at runner-up for three more categories such as team strikeouts per seven innings (7.20 | 19^th nationally), total sacrifice flies (10 | 17^th nationally), and WHIP (1.22).  
 
LAST WEEKEND
At. Henderson State (W, 4-2 (8) | W, 3-1 | W, 9-0 (5))
 
Native of Paris, Arkansas Sydney Ward paved the way for yet another successful weekend for the Muleriders as she started and finished games one and three for a pair of CGs. The senior added two more wins to her campaign record (8-2) as she recorded an earned run average of 1.38 over 13.0 innings played. In game one, Ward pitched all eight innings while allowing just two runs (both earned), eight hits, and two walks. The senior stranded eight Reddies on base as she also struck out seven batters. For the final contest on Sunday, the veteran pitched her fourth no hitter of her career and the program's 20^th. In game three, Ward pitched all five innings, struck out five batters, walked just one batter, played a part in eight groundouts and two flyouts, and faced just 16 batters.
 
Playing her part in the Muleriders second league sweep of 2024 was junior Brinson Rogers as she accounted for her own complete game in game two in which her pitching came very needed. Southern Arkansas was able to record three runs in the outing, including a Kamryn Moctezuma lead-off homer and a couple of unearned scores. SAU's three runs proved to be enough as Rogers nearly pitched her own shutout up till the bottom of the seventh when Henderson State managed to tack on a home run to lead-off the half inning. The Statesboro, Georgia native then struck out the next three batters and finished her weekend with one earned run allowed, no walks, one hit by pitch, five hits allowed, and nine strikeouts.

Southern Arkansas was highlighted in the batter's box by junior Jenna Huey as the Rimrock, Arizona native went 6-10 (.600%) at the plate and recorded five runs batted in, two runs, two dingers, and one double. Huey was struck out just once over the series and proved just as difficult to deal with defensively as she accounted for 27 putouts at first base with a fielding percentage of 1.000.
 
HISTORY
Southern Arkansas vs. Arkansas-Monticello All-Time Series (UAM leads 55-47)
The Muleriders face their bitter rival, the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms for the first occasion of the season. Southern Arkansas has been victors in 18 of the last 20 meetings with UAM and has defeated the Blossoms the last five outings against the bunch.
 
In the last five wins by the Muleriders, Coach Jason Anderson's defense has not allowed more than four runs against Arkansas-Monticello. The most recent occasion of the Blossoms scoring 5+ runs took place March 9, 2022 for their last victory over the Muleriders.
 
Arkansas-Monticello (12-13 | 4-5 GAC)
The Cotton Blossoms have won two series within the Great American Conference with both coming in 2-1 victories. UAM's last league weekend came against Harding as the Blossoms received their first series loss (Vs. Harding L, 3-2 | L, 5-0 | L, 7-1). Monticello two weekend wins came against Southeastern Oklahoma State and Ouachita Baptist. While defeating the Tigers, UAM fell to OUA in the final outing and is currently on a four-game losing streak.
 
The primary starter for the Cotton Blossoms in the circle has been Mallory Pitre (5-4 | 4.08 ERA). The junior has started 11 of her 13 game appearances, played in 56.2 innings, pitched four complete games, allowed 58 hits, 35 runs (33 earned), 20 walks, 17 extra base hits, and a batting average of .267. Pitre has struck out 48 batters thus far into 2024.
 
Arkansas-Monticello's secondary pitcher has been Sam Stephens (3-3 | 4.75 ERA). The senior has started nine of her 11 game appearances, played in 35.1 innings, allowed 46 hits, 27 runs (24 earned), 17 walks, 13 extra base hits, and a batting average of .311. Stephens has also been responsible for 27 strikeouts this season.
 
The UAM pitching staff has surrendered 212 hits, 132 runs (122 earned), 71 walks, 63 extra base hits, and a batting average of .316. The group is currently averaging 5.32 earned runs per outing.
 
The Cotton Blossom's most efficient batter has been Adrianna Erichsen as she has gone 25-68 (.368) and leads the team with 25 runs. Erichsen has accounted for 31 total bases with a slugging percentage of .456. The sophomore ranks first in the conference in a couple categories such as averaging one run per game and 0.76 walks per game. Erichsen is also the team-leader for on-base percentage with .494 (4^th GAC).
 
The Cotton Blossoms are second in the conference for doubles and doubles per game as they have recorded 40 doubles and average 1.60 per contest. The bunch sits at second in the league for total stolen bases (45 | 25^th nationally), stolen bases per game (1.80), and total runs (110).
 
Southern Arkansas' midweek doubleheader against Arkansas-Monticello is set to start at 4:00 p.m. at Dawson Field located inside the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex. Live coverage of the events can be found at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage