MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The 12^th-ranked Mulerider Softball crew comes off an extremely successful beginning to the week as the group follows its series matchup with the 10^th-ranked Harding Lady Bisons in which the Blue and Gold swept the top-ten team in three shutout victories against the Great American Conference's best batting and scoring team (4-0, 2-0, 4-0).
 
Following the top-ten triumphs, the Muleriders now travel to the Sooner State to take on the East Central Tigers where the unit looks to keep their winning ways rolling as the group has accumulated a 22-game winning streak and leads two of three divisions in the NCAA (DI & DII) with their winning streak. The two will begin the three-game series on Friday at 3:00 PM for the series opener with the doubleheader taking place at high noon on Saturday.
 
Series History
Southern Arkansas has dominated the all-time series against the Tigers as the group has accounted for a 42-14 record against East Central and has won the last 19 contests against ECU. SAU has also been victors in the last eight series against the Tigers as they have yet to lose a series to the group from Ada since the 2015 season.
 
A Glimpse at the Muleriders (32-5 | 22-1 | W22)
As mentioned, Southern Arkansas is coming off its 22^nd-straight win of the season and is only behind one team in the NCAA. The Muleriders jumped five spots in the NFCA DII Coaches Poll this last week as the group is now the 12^th-ranked team in the nation and looks to keep climbing that ladder. As of now, the Blue and Gold lead the conference in earned run average (1.33 | 3^rd DII), shutouts (18 | 1^st DII | 2^nd NCAA), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.97 | 7^th DII), team strikeouts per seven innings (7.44 | 7^th DII), WHIP (.94 | 3^rd DII), and drawn walks (133).
 
The Muleriders have been led by the nationally known Brinson Rogers who is coming off her eighth GAC Pitcher of the Week plaudit after being responsible for two of the three shutouts against the Lady Bisons. Rogers is currently in 7^th in DII for her ERA of 0.77 but holds the best ERA in DII for pitchers that have seen at least 100 innings pitched and is just one of two in DII with a sub-one ERA and 100+ innings pitched. In the GAC, the Statesboro, Georgia native is also first in complete games (17 | 11^th DII), games started (23 | 8^th DII), hits allowed per seven innings (3.53 | 3^rd DII), innings pitched (144.2 | 8^th DII), shutouts (14 | 1^st NCAA), strikeouts (203 | 2^nd DII) | 3^rd NCAA), strikeouts per seven innings (9.8 | 7^th DII), WHIP (0.80 | 6^th DII), and victories (22 | 1^st NCAA).
 
In terms of batting average, Sophia Stoddard has once again jumped out to the Muleriders' leader in the category after going 6-9 against #10 Harding last week and bringing her season average to .361 now with 39 hits, 17 runs, six doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 13 RBIs. Immediately behind her is the previous leader in batting average Regan Dillon as the junior accounts for a .330 and has 24 hits, 30 runs (leads team), seven doubles (leads team), a triple, nine home runs (leads team | 5^th GAC), and 29 RBIs (leads team).
 
A Glimpse at the Tigers (15-19 | 8-15 | L1)
East Central is coming off just its second league series win after nabbing two of three from the reigning GAC Tournament Champions, the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. The Tigers secured the series after just the first two contests and nearly obtained the sweep after falling in game three 7-6. ECU dominated game two against SNU as they run-rule the Crimson Storm with a nine-run top of the sixth.
 
In the circle for the Tigers, the group has turned to Taylor Spence for the majority of the season as the pitcher from Kingston, Oklahoma has started in 12 of her 16 appearances this season and holds a 5.59 ERA. With the most appearances in the circle this campaign, ECU's Lindsey Mauppin has made 20 showings in the circle and currently has a 3.66 ERA for the second-best on the team.
 
East Central has brought the power to the bats as the Tigers are led by Elyse LeClair with a .404 batting average with her 31 runs (leads team), 46 hits (leads team), seven doubles, one home run, and 27 RBIs. The second-best average for the Tigers this season has been recorded by Shayne Roberts who has marked a .349 BA and has recorded 22 runs, 37 hits, 10 doubles (leads team), one triple, three home runs, and 20 RBIs.