BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Team 27 (5-2 | 0-0) began their run at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic right as the group faced Drury (1-5 | 0-0) and Central Missouri (1-1 | 0-0) and came away with a couple victories in day one. Over the two Friday games, the Muleriders never once surrendered a run even after being faced with adversity in certain half innings that saw opposition have runners in scoring position.
Vs. Drury (W, 3-0)
A run from America Rubio on a fly out by Cassidy Lear in the second inning seemed to be all SAU needed in this contest as the Muleriders' defense stood strong for all seven innings of the contest.
Southern Arkansas' defense highlighted this contest as the Muleriders secured their first shutout of the season with Kassie Rhodes, native of Quitman, Arkansas, leading the way for the complete game shutout. Rhodes made her third appearance of the season and her first start as the junior transfer kept up her 0.00 ERA in a contest that she allowed just three hits against 25 batters. Rhodes walked just one batter and accounted for five strikeouts in the outing. The defense behind Rhodes saw ten fly-outs and six ground-outs. With the win, the junior claims her second win as a Muleriders and her first complete game.
Savannah Clausen and American Rubio each had solid performance as the two led the unit with two hits while Clausen recorded an RBI and Rubio a run. Scoring the final run for the Muleriders ended up being Regan Dillon as Kelsie Adams grounded out and opened the window for Dillon to score from third.
Top Performers Vs. Drury:
Kassie Rhodes: 1 complete game, 5 Ks, 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 shutout
America Rubio: 2-3 batting, 1 run
Savannah Clausen: 2-4 batting, 1 RBI
Regan Dillon: 1-3 batting, 1 walk, and 1 run
Vs. Central Missouri (W, 5-0)
As the Muleriders came off shutout number one of the fresh campaign, shutout number two had little to no delay from the first as the Blue and Gold displayed another tremendous defensive stand, this time against the Jennies.
SAU seemingly had the contest bagged after the top of innings one and two as the Muleriders did not allow a single player from the UCM lineup reach a bag. Not until the top of the third that is. In the T3, the Blue and Gold had a switch up in the adversity meter with just a 2-0 lead over UCM and the Jennies looking to turn the tables. With two hits in the half inning and three runners on base, the Muleriders got out of the situation unscathed.
Central Missouri attempted in the insurrection a second time in the top of the fifth, after three hits and loading the bases once more. Unfortunately for the UCM, the Blue and Gold's defense proved too strong as the unit saw back-to-back strikeouts just after loading the bags.
Making her fourth appearance and third start of 2025 was Brinson Rogers as the senior improved her ERA from a week ago with a shutout (2.94). Rogers faced 26 batters in the outing and allowed just five hits while having three walks. In 2024, Rogers did not see a double-digit strikeout performance until her ninth appearance, but this season it just took four as the Statesboro, Georgia native accounted for 12 Ks against Central Missouri. Rogers stayed in the circle for 6.0 innings before Head Coach Jason Anderson made the change for Corie Byrd to take the stage and close out the day for the Muleriders to start the top of the seventh.
It was periodical, but the Mulerider offense showed plenty of bright spots in its performance as the group scored a pair of runs in the second for the early lead thanks to a single off the bat of Jocelyn Ulrich that scored Rubio and Payton Owens (both in scoring position).
Southern Arkansas wouldn't score until the fifth, in which Rubio singled down the left field line for a pair of runs batted in with Brooklynn Reed (pinch running for Dillon) and Jenna Huey scoring, 4-0.
Huey then added on her own RBI with a single to the left side that advanced Dillon to score, 5-0.
Top Performers vs. Central Missouri
Brinson Rogers: 6.0 innings pitched, 12 Ks, 5 hits, 3 walks, and 1 shutout
American Rubio: 2-3 batting, 2 RBI, and 1 run
Jocelyn Ulrich: 1-2 batting, 2 walks, and 2 RBI
Jenna Huey: 1-2 batting, 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 1 run
Regan Dillon: 0-1 batting, 3 walks
Next Up:
The Muleriders are back in action tomorrow for two games first against Northeastern State at 11:00 AM followed by the the reigning national champions in #1 UT-Tyler at 1:30 PM. Fans make sure to follow all this weekends action through the links on the Muleriders athletics website.
