MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Team 27 (10-5 | 2-1) has wrapped up its first Great American Conference and home series of the 2025 campaign as the Muleriders claimed victory in the three-game series after defeating Southern Nazarene (8-8 | 1-2) 7-5 in game two of the series and drop game three 0-3.
 
Game Two vs. Southern Nazarene (W, 7-5)
The Crimson Storm began the ballgame different from the night before as SNU recorded three hits off of Kassie Rhodes (2-1 | 6 app.) and scored first with a run in the top of the first. With two outs, the Crimson Storm struck first in the contest with a single up the middle scoring one run entering the bottom of the first, 1-0.
 
Southern Arkansas looked to counter Southern Nazarene but was unable to as the group would go three up and three down.
 
Rhodes then shut down SNU in the top half of the second minus a walk as the junior transfer forced a ground out, line out, and a pop out going into the bottom of the second.
 
The Muleriders flipped momentum completely in the bottom of the second inning as Clausen got some life going for the Blue and Gold offense by drawing a hit by pitch which was then followed by a single from Kelsie Adams to put two runners on base. Sophia Stoddard would then draw a walk to load the bases. Shortly after the Crimson Storm struck out the next batter, Jenna Huey stepped to the plate and delivered a grand slam to obtain the lead, 4-1.
 
Southern Nazarene quickly attacked back as the unit tacked on a pair of runs in the following half inning as the lead-off batter reached on an error and was then batted in home with a double from the next batter. After exchanging pitchers from Rhodes to Jayce Hall, the Crimson Storm added another runner on a bag by reaching with an errant throw from Clausen which also aided Southern Nazarene with another score to make the outing a 4-3 ballgame.
 
After America Rubio flied out to start the bottom of the third, Clausen followed with a walk which was then followed by a double from Kelsie Adams to score Clausen, 5-3.
 
Hall followed up with a 1-2-3 outing in the top of the fourth, but the Muleriders were not able to produce as Huey and Lear grounded out before a Regan Dillon single back to the pitcher. Jocelyn Ulrich followed and flied out to the left-center field.
 
The next inning and a half (fifth and top sixth) remained silent offensively until Southern Arkansas broke the silence in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs off the bats of Rubio and Adams for the 7-3 lead entering the final inning of play.
 
To close out game two and clinch the league series, Brinson Rogers entered the circle for Hall in the top of the seventh. The two-time GAC Pitcher of the Week was quickly met with resistance from the Crimson Storm as the first batter she faced in the inning singled to right field and was quickly followed with a home run over the center field wall for two runs and no outs. While SNU thought it had put the pressure on Rogers, the senior pitcher was unfazed and then proceeded with a strikeout, pop out, and strikeout swinging to close the doors on the Crimson Storm's hopes of winning the series.
 
Players of the Game:
Jaycie Hall: Credited the win, 4.0 IP
Kelsie Adams: 3-for-3 batting, two RBI, one run, and one walk
Jenna Huey: 1-for-3 batting, four RBI, one grand slam
 
Game Three vs. Southern Nazarene (L, 0-3)
 
Southern Arkansas, now in search of the series sweep, was faced with a very impressive game from Janie Worthington in the circle as the senior from Carnegie, Oklahoma allowed just one hit, two walks, and erased nine batters out of the 25 batters she faced. Worthington was also credited with 12 fly outs against the Muleriders batting lineup.
 
Southern Arkansas went through three pitchers in the final contest as Rogers made her eighth start of the season and claimed just her second loss of the year as she pitched for 5.0 innings and allowed four hits, four walks, two runs (both earned), a wild pitch, and struck out just two batters.
 
The Muleriders' lone hit of the outing came off the bat of Jenna Huey as the senior was just a few inches from going yard for the second time of the day.
 
Next Up:
Southern Arkansas continues its early home stretch in the Great American Conference as the 27^th team of the program will take on in-state foe Arkansas Tech this coming weekend on Friday and Saturday. The series is set to begin with the single game at 5:00 PM on Friday and will decide a winner on Saturday for the series doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM.