MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Softball (10-5 | 2-1) enters week two of the Great American Conference schedule 2-1 in league play after defeating Southern Nazarene (8-8 | 1-2), who was predicted to win the conference, in games one and two of the three-game series. The Muleriders are now set to face in-state competition as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (10-8 | 2-1) travel to Columbia County for the weekend.
Series History (SAU vs. ATU)
Southern Arkansas faces another team the unit met in the 2024 GAC Tournament as SAU and ATU faced in the opening round of last spring's tournament. The contest ended up going in favor of the Blue and Gold as the Muleriders defeated the Golden Suns 8-2 after being swept by ATU on the road earlier in the campaign.
All-time between these two Natural State opponents, the Golden Suns hold the advantage with a 47-33 record against Southern Arkansas. Team 27 looks to be the first Mulerider group to win a series against Arkansas Tech since the 2018 season when SAU traveled to Russellville and claimed three of the four games played (back when the GAC played four-game series). The two have also been post-season rivals as the groups have faced each other seven times since 2017 in either the Great American Conference Tournament or the NCAA Postseason.
A Glance at the Muleriders
SAU comes off its first GAC series triumph this season after defeating the preseason-favored Crimson Storm 2-1 in the series. In the conference standings, Southern Arkansas currently resides in a four-way tie for second with a 2-1 record in the league.
The highlight of the weekend for the Blue and Gold happened on day one and game one of the series as the Muleriders run-ruled the Crimson Storm 8-0 after a walk-off double to left field by Sophia Stoddard to score a pair of runs and give Southern Arkansas the momentum needed to win game two the following day.
SAU in the circle has been dominated by Brinson Rogers as the senior from Statesboro, Georgia is currently averaging a 1.58 ERA, which is the best in the league amongst pitchers with 35.0 innings pitched. After that 8-0 run-rule, Rogers claimed her fourth shutout win (1st GAC | three-way tie for 1st in DII) this season in her fifth complete game of the year.
A Glance at the Golden Suns
Arkansas Tech, through 18 contests, has gone 10-8 thus far with a recent conference series triumph at Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Golden Suns claimed the series after winning games two and three (13-11, 3-1).
The Tech offense has been very efficient in the box this season as the group is number one in the conference for doubles with 29 and ranks 22nd in DII. The group is fourth in the league for total hits as they have accounted for 128. They are third in the GAC for RBI and total runs with 82 RBI and 89 runs. Averaging a score of 4.94 runs per game ranks the Golden Suns fifth in the GAC in scoring.
Alexis Findley is one of three pitchers just behind Brinson Rogers for the lead in complete games this season as Findley has accounted for four complete games this year. In 51.0 innings pitched, the senior from Wardsville, Missouri has accounted for a 2.61 ERA. Findley is also the league leader for strikeouts to this point with 60 (12th DII). Rogers sits behind her by just four Ks. Findley's performances against the Rangers in Alva proved to be some of the best seen from a pitcher in the GAC this season as the senior accounted for 22 batters waved in just 11.1 innings pitched (1.98 Ks per inning).
Broadcast Information
Streaming and live stats links for Mulerider Softball's contests with Arkansas Tech can be found at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.
