MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Senior weekend has arrived at the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex as the red-hot Muleriders are set for their final regular season action at home with the group hosting the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm with a doubleheader taking place on Friday at 4:00 PM and the series finale on Saturday at high noon.
Series History
After last season's turnout at Durant, Oklahoma, the Savage Storm has taken the lead in the all-time series against Southern Arkansas as SE currently leads the Muleriders 35-34 due to their series win (2-1) over the Blue and Gold last year while at home. After SAU had claimed game one of the 2024 series, Southeastern took games two and three. The two squads first met on February 20, 1999, when SE defeated Southern Arkansas 9-0 and went on to win the next four meetings before the Muleriders secured their first triumph against SE in 2001.
A Glimpse at the Muleriders
SAU comes into their final home series of the regular season with the NCAA's longest active winning streak of 27 games while outlasting Division I, II, and III. Most recently for the Blue and Gold, the GAC leaders defeated and swept in-state rival Arkansas-Monticello for the two squads' final doubleheader of the season, as the Muleriders claimed the victories with 8-0 and 3-1 finals. As a whole, the group leads the Great American Conference with a record of 26-1 in the league and an overall record of 37-5.
Leading for the Muleriders in the circle continues to be
Brinson Rogers, as the native of Statesboro, Georgia is coming off her 20
th complete game and her 17
th shutout following her ninth GAC Pitcher of the Week honor (the most in a season by any GAC pitcher) and her fourth NFCA DII National Pitcher of the Week plaudit (Most by any student-athlete for pitcher or player). Rogers currently leads the GAC in various categories such as complete games (6
th DII), ERA (0.68 | 3
rd DII), games started (26 | 3
rd DII), hits allowed per seven innings (3.39 | 3
rd DII), innings pitched (165.0 | 9
th DII), shutouts (17 | 1
st NCAA), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.07 | 23
rd DII), strikeouts (233 | 2
nd DII), strikeouts per seven innings (9.9 | 6
th DII), WHIP (0.76 | 4
th DII), and victories (25 | 1
st NCAA).
Sophia Stoddard continues to lead the Blue and Gold bats in hitting average with a .352 average. The native of Bountiful, Utah, leads the Muleriders in hits recorded with 44 and has accounted for 19 runs, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 15 RBI. Leading the group in home runs continues to be
Regan Dillon, as the junior has accounted for 10 this season.
A Glimpse at the Savage Storm
Southeastern Oklahoma State currently sits at 24-22 overall with a 15-12 record in the Great American Conference. The group comes off a midweek outing against their in-state rivals, East Central. ECU came out on top 7-4 in the contest following the Savage Storm sweeping the Cotton Blossoms while in Durant, Oklahoma.
SE has turned to Emily Simmons for the majority of the season, as the sophomore from Houston, Texas, has accounted for a 12-7 record with a 3.60 ERA. Simmons has completed nine games this season with two saves. She has pitched 112.2 innings and has allowed 127 hits, 69 runs, 35 walks, 17 doubles, six triples, and 10 home runs. Simmons is second on the team in strikeouts with 97, behind Trinity Oden with 100.
Iliana Olivares leads the Savage Storm in terms of batting average as the junior from Dallas, Texas, has accounted for a .378 average with 56 hits, 20 runs, 16 doubles, four home runs, 28 RBI, and 14 walks.
Broadcast Details
Streaming and Live Stats links for Mulerider Softball's contests against Southeastern Oklahoma State can be found at
www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.
