SHAWNEE, Okla. — Mulerider Softball (8-4 | 0-0) traveled to central Oklahoma for the annual Raising Canes GAC/MIAA Invitational on Friday and only Friday after games for Saturday and Sunday were canceled due to the inclement weather heading toward the area. In its day trip to the Sooner State, Southern Arkansas took on the Missouri Southern Lions (7-6 | 0-0) and the Fort Hays State Tigers (3-3 | 0-0).
The Muleriders exited the invitational with a split weekend at the Firelake Ball Fields after having defeated Missouri Southern 1-0 for the team's fifth shutout victory of the campaign. SAU then fell to Fort Hays State 2-6 in the following bout, 2-6.
Vs. Missouri Southern (W, 1-0)
Southern Arkansas could have almost not asked for a better defensive showing as the Muleriders handled the Lions' offense throughout the contest, which was led by the Great American Conference and Wilson/NFCA Division II Pitcher of the Week Brinson Rogers.
The senior made her sixth start of the season and her seventh appearance as Rogers delivered a very impressive outing as she retired ten batters (10 strikeouts), allowed no walks, and did not allow a single hit for the entire 7.0 innings she pitched against the Lions. This marked Rogers' third game at DII without allowing a hit (both for 2.0 IP), but her first no-hitter as she pitched a complete game. With the win, the Statesboro, Georgia native secured win number five for her 5-1 record on the campaign. Against MSSU, Rogers delivered four 1-2-3 innings. The entirety of the game, the Lions managed to place just two runners on base, but only due to a pair of pitches hitting the batters.
Southern Arkansas scored a run early, but not often, as the lone score for the Muleriders came off the bat of Jocelyn Ulrich to score Regan Dillon from second base due to a passed ball in the bottom of the first. Ulrich, the Aztec, New Mexico native, was the team-lead for hits with two on her two at-bats as the senior drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth.
Vs. Fort Hays State (L, 2-6)
Within the bottom of the first inning, the Tigers were able to draw first blood with a single to right center field to score their runner standing at second before Mulerider pitcher Jayce Hall could wrap up the inning with a pop out to Cassidy Lear at third, 0-1.
In the bottom of the second, after back-to-back doubles (0-2), Southern Arkansas would call for a pitching change as Kassie Rhodes stepped to the circle to attempt at finishing up the inning. The Tigers were not through though as the unit would tack on another run before closing out the inning, 0-3.
The score would be unfazed until the top of the fifth as the Tigers looked to shutdown the Muleriders once again with two outs and a runner on first. Regan Dillon then stepped to the plate and on a 1-1 count, the junior from Bryant, Arkansas would smash the ball out of left field for the two-run bomb and cutting the deficit down to one. However, these would be the last runs scored by SAU for the remainder of the contest.
After shutting out FHSU in the bottom of the second and feeling the bats start to warm up in the cold Oklahoma air, the Muleriders seemed to have found some momentum in their favor. Unfortunately, Southern Arkansas left two runners on bag in the top of the sixth with a chance to claim the lead which was then followed by the Tigers adding on three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 2-6 score. With two runners on-base in the top of the seventh and two outs on the board, the Muleriders would drop the contest after a flyout to left field.
Next Up:
The Muleriders next outing will be back home inside the rejuvenated Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex for the Team 27's first Great American Conference contests as the group will be in a 2024 GAC Championship rematch with the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. The series' single-game will take place Friday at 5:00 PM (Feb. 21) and the two will decide a series winner on Saturday for the doubleheader starting at 12:00 PM.
