TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Team 28 capped off the pre-conference schedule with a pair of ranked matchups and two of the MIAA's best groups. Southern Arkansas got the day started with a massive win against 7th-ranked Central Oklahoma, as the Muleriders went on to defeat the Broncho 14-6 in five innings. SAU followed it up with a matchup against 17th-ranked Missouri Southern that ended with a 8-0 final with MSSU winning in five innings. Prior to falling to MSSU, the Muleriders recorded their best start to a season in program history, at 13-0. The only other season that came close to as good of a start was the 2016 group starting at 12-0.
Vs. #7 UCO (W, 14-6 (5))
Southern Arkansas started off hot with a two runs in the top of first innings, as Kelsie Adams singled to score Madde Leal, 1-0, and Sophia Luetticke singled to score Adams, 2-0.
The Muleriders kept their foot on the gas in the top second, as Regan Dillon doubled to score Jenny Bouthillier, 3-0, Leal singled to score Dillon, 4-0, and America Rubio homered to score her and Leal, 6-0.
The Bronchos had finally responded to the Muleriders early offense, as UCO doubled to score two runs, 6-2. Soon after, UCO recorded a single and batted in another run to make the score 6-3.
After a silent third, Rubio broke the silence with her second dinger of the day, scoring her and Leal again, 8-3. Soon after, Adams dialed up a solo home run, 9-3. Payton Owens then came up to record a single and score Luetticke, 10-3. SAU was not done though, as AvaMarie Perry reached on an error and saw Leigha Gilbert score after pinch running for Bouthillier, 11-3. Owens was then batted in on a Leal single, 12-3. Then right after that, Rubio grounded out and opened the opportunity for Perry to score, 13-3, for the final run of the fourth.
The Bronchos did not go down quietly though, as the group got two runners on base and homered for a three-run at-bat, 13-6.
In the top of the fifth, Luetticke put the run-rule back in effect, Chillicothe, Missouri native recorded a lead-off bomb to go back up eight runs, 14-6.
Vs. #17 MSSU (L, 8-0 (5))
Southern Arkansas saw its first loss of the season, as the Muleriders dropped to the Missouri Southern State Lions 8-0 to cap off the weekend and pre-conference tournament action.
Missouri Southern jumped ahead early, plating four runs in the first and third innings. The Muleriders were held off of the scoreboard despite the Muleriders having recorded eight hits. While Missouri Southern had left just four runners on base, the Muleriders were unable to capitalize on their 10 runners left on base.
Up Next:
Coming up next on the schedule for Team 28, the Blue and Gold will stay on the road, but will do so to begin conference play. The Muleriders are set to begin Great American Conference action in Bethany, Oklahoma for the Muleriders to take on Southern Nazarene next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 20-21).
