MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Team 26 split their series doubleheader against the current Great American Conference leading Oklahoma Baptist as Southern Arkansas defeated the Bison in their first outing by a final score of 2-1 in nine innings. The Muleriders were then defeated by OBU in game two by a final of 8-2. With the pair of contests in the books, Southern Arkansas now moves to 21-10 overall and 10-6 in league play.
 
Game One
SAU W, 2-1 (9)
The Muleriders prevailed in the series opener in defensive fashion as junior Brinson Rogers made her 13^th start and her 15^th appearance of the campaign. The Statesboro, Georgia native retired 15 of the 36 batters she faced in her seventh complete game of the season. The junior walked seven batters, surrendered just two hits and one run while also being responsible for eight fly outs and two ground outs.
 
Each group looked for the bats to warm up at any point throughout the contest as the Muleriders put a run on the board first with a Jenna Huey double to score Ava Dunn (pinch running for Regan Dillon) in the bottom of the third inning.
 
The Bison answered in the sixth with a double of their own to tie the ballgame at one apiece. The would then hold for the remainder of the preset seven innings and pushed the contest into extras.
 
Each group put at least two runners on base in their half innings of the eighth as OBU left a pair of runners on base and SAU stranded three.
 
Rogers handled the Bison in the top half of the ninth as she struck out the side to keep the Muleriders hopes alive in the bottom of the ninth. With a lead-off out, Haley Nillen was then walked by Bison pitcher Kayleigh Jones and was then advanced to second on a single by Huey. Bella Angelo, who had gone for 0-3 in the contest, then plated Nillen on a shallow left field single.
 
Game Two
OBU W, 8-2
Three pitchers saw the circle for game two as senior Sydney Ward (5 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 20 batters faced) got the start and played for 3.1 innings before being relieved for Morgan McAlexander (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 9 batters faced). McAlexander stayed in for 1.1 innings prior to Corie Byrd (3 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, 11 batters faced) entering the circle for the remainder of the contest.
While Southern Arkansas kept up with Oklahoma Baptist's batting effort (11 hits), the Muleriders nine hits were not enough to defeat the Bison as SAU managed to plate just two runs in the outing. With the bases loaded early in the bottom of the first, Southern Arkansas answered Oklahoma Baptist's three runs in the top half of the inning on a Huey single to plate Ariana Rolle. In hopes of pulling off the comeback, down 6-1 in the bottom of the first, Gracie King stepped to the plate and lined a bomb past the fences for third home run of the campaign
 
On Deck
Team 26 faces the preseason GAC favorites for the series' rubber match tomorrow at the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex set for a 1:00 p.m. start. For more on upcoming events, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com