MAGNOLIA, Ark. – It's that time of the year again when it feels as if we are in the postseason just three weeks in, as the 11^th-ranked Muleriders (10-0) get set for the MIAA/GAC Crossover. Southern Arkansas is set to face four opponents from the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), in which three of the Muleriders' weekend foes rank inside the NFCA's latest DII Top-25 Coaches Poll.
                                         
Team 28's foes for the coming weekend are familiar ones, as the Muleriders will take on the 12^th-ranked Rogers State Hillcats (7-2), Fort Hays State (0-0), seventh-ranked Central Oklahoma (8-2), and 17^th-ranked Missouri Southern State (10-1).
 
Series Histories
SAU vs. Rogers State | Feb. 13 (11:00 AM)
11^th meeting: SAU leads series 7-3
First Meeting: 2/15/2014 – RSU won 5-3 (Wichita Falls, Texas)
Last Meeting: 2/18/2024 – SAU won 5-3 (8) (Edmond, Okla.)
 
SAU vs. Fort Hays State | Feb. 13 (1:30 PM)
8^th meeting: SAU leads series 5-2
First Meeting: 2/14/2025 – FHSU won 7-0 (Bentonville, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 2/15/2013 – FHSU won 6-2 (Shawnee, Okla.)
 
SAU vs. Central Oklahoma | Feb. 14 (11:00 AM)
15^th meeting: UCO leads series 9-5
First Meeting: 2/10/2001 – UCO won 5-4 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 2/18/2024 – UCO won 10-2 (5) (Edmond, Okla.)
 
SAU vs. Missouri Southern | Feb. 14 (1:30 PM)
15^th meeting: SAU leads series 10-4
First Meeting: 3/18/2000 – SAU won 3-2 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 5/9/2025 – MSSU won 3-0 (Magnolia, Ark. | NCAA DII Central Regional)
 
SAU Notables
>>> The Muleriders are riding high into week three, as Team 28 comes off a stellar weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas, in which SAU went 5-0 and propelled to a 10-0 starting record. After the impressive start to the season, the Muleriders earned recognition from the NFCA, as the unit leaped from receiving votes to the 11^th-ranked group nationally. Not only did the unit claim team recognition, but also individually in the circle. For the Blue and Gold in the circle, Emma Duncan was named the Great American Conference's week two Pitcher of the Week, as the grad went on to pitch the program's 23^rd no-hitter, allowing just four hits in 52 batters, resulting in an opposing batting average of .085.
 
>>> Multiple Muleriders had a stellar weekend last time out at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, but having a very impressive weekend was senior Paris Endris. The local of Bossier City, Louisiana accounted for a .600 batting average last weekend, in which she went 6-for-10 at the plate, scored three run, had two home runs, eight RBIs, and five walks. Another member of Team 28 with an outstanding weekend in Bentonville was senior America Rubio. The El Paso, Texas native went 7-for-18 at the plate with 10 runs scored, three home runs, seven RBIs, and one walk drawn.
 
>>> Through ten games, the Mulerider lead the Great American Conference in multiple statistical categories. Those are doubles hit (16 | 17^th DII), ERA (1.91 | 21^st DII), on-base percentage (0.456 | 19^th DII), RBIs per game (6.90 | 16^th DII), RBIs (69 | 6^th DII), scoring offense (7.30 | 25^th DII), total runs (73 | 8^th DII), and walks drawn (54 | 1^st DII).
 
Rogers State Notables
>>> The Hillcats' pitching staff has been one of the nation's best thus far, as RSU leads the MIAA in ERA with 1.49 (12^th DII). The group has also accounted for the second-most shutouts in the nation with four (1^st MIAA). Rogers State's staff has also recorded the MIAA's best strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.14 (9^th DII). The Hillcats also boast the nation's third-best WHIP average with 0.87 (1^st MIAA).
 
Fort Hays State Notables
>>> The Tigers are looking to begin their season in the crossover, as Fort Hays will take on the East Central Tigers on Friday before matching up with the Muleriders that afternoon. Last season, the Tigers finished at 24-21 overall with a 9-15 record in the MIAA.
 
Central Oklahoma Notables
>>> The Bronchos boast a strong batting lineup so far into the year, as the unit leads the MIAA in statistical categories such as doubles hit (26 | 2^nd DII), RBIs (74 | 2^nd DII), total runs scored (81 | 4^th DII), and triples hit (4 | 16^th DII). While they don't lead the MIAA in every offensive category, UCO still ranks second in the league in areas like on-base percentage (0.455 | 20^th DII), RBIs per game (7.40 | 12^th DII), scoring offense (8.10 | 14^th DII), slugging percentage (0.532 | 25^th DII), and triples hit per game (0.40).
 
Missouri Southern Notables
>>> The last time the Muleriders and Lions took on one another, Missouri Southern came out on top in the Central Regional hosted in Magnolia, Arkansas. The Lions boast another impressive pitching staff, as MSSU has the second-best ERA in the MIAA, with a 1.93 (22^nd DII). Staying with defense, the Lions have been most notably spectacular when it comes to producing strikeouts, as Missouri Southern leads the MIAA in strikeouts (76 | 2^nd DII) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.71 | 11^th DII).
 
>>> The only thing more impressive than the Lions' defense so far has been the unit's offense, as the group leads the MIAA in several categories, such as slugging percentage (0.538 | 23^rd DII), stolen bases (38 | 1^st DII), stolen bases per game (3.45 | 9^th DII), and triples hit (4 | 16^th DII).
 
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