MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The 10^th-ranked Muleriders (13-1) are saddled up for Great American Conference action, as Southern Arkansas will begin league play in Bethany, Oklahoma, where Team 28 will go and face the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm for a single game at 3:00 PM on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 PM.
 
Broadcast Information
This weekend's contests will be broadcast on the SNU Hudl Fan page with live stats available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com/coverage.
 
Series History
SAU vs. Southern Nazarene | Feb. 20-21
43^rd Meeting: SAU leads series 26-17
First Meeting: 4/5/2013 – SAU won 9-3 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 2/24/2025 – SNU won 3-0 (Magnolia, Ark.)
 
SAU Notables
>>> Southern Arkansas has had a solid beginning to the campaign, as the Muleriders wrapped up their pre-conference tournaments with a 13-1 record. The group also produced the best start in program history, as Team 28 started 13-0 before recording its first loss of the season against then 17^th-ranked Missouri Southern State (now #7). Before accounting for their first loss, the Muleriders recorded three ranked wins, against teams like #9 Augustana (11-4), 12 Rogers State (3-2/8), and #7 Central Oklahoma (14-6/5). Southern Arkansas' matchup with the Crimson Storm will mark the first time the two groups meet since the Muleriders fell to SNU back on February 24, 2025. That loss for SAU took place after Team 27 had already clinched the series, but also was the game right before the Muleriders went on their 27-game winning streak.
 
>>> Team 28 at the plate has been impressive thus far, as the unit ranks second in the GAC for batting average at .349 (29^th DII). The group is one of the GAC's top offensive teams so far, as the unit leads the league in statistical categories such as doubles (21 | 25^th DII), triples (3), on-base percentage (.451 | 11^th DII), RBIs per game (6.71 | 18^th DII), RBIs (94 | 8^th DII), slugging percentage (.576 | 8^th DII), total runs (99 | 12^th DII), and walks drawn (67 | 2^nd DII). While they don't lead the GAC in every category, the Muleriders still rank second in home runs hit (19 | 3^rd DII), home runs per game (1.36 | 7^th DII), hits (129 | 14^th DII), stolen bases (24 | 23^rd DII), and scoring (7.07 | 30^th DII).
 
>>> Multiple players for Southern Arkansas have stood out at the plate this season, but leading the Muleriders in batting average so far has been Maddie Leal. A local of Houston, Texas, Leal boasts a batting average of .514 and ranks second in the GAC. The Texan has gone 19-for-37 with four doubles and a triple. Leal also leads the league in drawn walks with 15, which ranks tied for second nationally. She is also the GAC's leader in runs scored with 19, which ranks fourth nationally.
 
>>> In the circle for the Muleriders, Southern Arkansas is led in ERA by Kassie Rhodes with a 2.84 ERA through 37.0 innings pitched. While she does not lead the staff in ERA, Emma Duncan ranks second in the staff with a 2.90 ERA, but leads the group with an opposing batting average of .181.
 
SNU Notables
>>> Southern Nazarene looks to record its first weekend with an above .500 winning percentage, as the Crimson Storm have yet to exceed the percentage in their first three weekends of competition. SNU currently sits at 5-7 and comes off a .500 weekend with losses to Missouri Western (9-5) and Pitt State (3-2), while also winning against Nebraska-Kearney (3-0) and Quincy (4-0).
 
>>> As a team, the Crimson Storm has been strong defensively, as the unit ranks second in the league for double plays recorded (5 | 19^th DII), doubles plays per game (0.42), and fielding percentage (.976 | 25^th DII). Southern Nazarene leads the league in shutouts, as the unit has produced three shutouts so far, and ranks seventh nationally.
 
>>> Currently leading the Crimson Storm in ERA with at least 20 innings pitched is Olivia Hernandez. The senior from Texhoma, Oklahoma, has accumulated an ERA of 2.55 so far and has produced an opposing batting average of .191. The Crimson Storm's leader in opposing batting average is Baylee Sales, as the junior from Mabank, Texas, is producing a .189 opposing batting average.
 
>>> With a BA of .313, Abby Wood leads the Crimson Storm in batting average, as the junior from Washington, Oklahoma, has gone 10-for-32 at the plate, while also drawing a team-high six walks.
 
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