MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Softball heads back on the road for the group's second weekend of competition, as Southern Arkansas will head up to North Arkansas in Bentonville for the annual Alvy Early Memorial Classic (Feb. 6-8).
 
Team 28 will face another five opponents this weekend, as the Muleriders will begin the weekend with an 11:30 AM start time against St. Edwards University (0-4) (LSC) on Friday (Feb. 6). SAU will follow that contest with an immediate 2:00 PM battle against Northwest Missouri State (2-3) (MIAA). Southern Arkansas will then transition to Saturday (Feb. 7), as the Muleriders will begin the day with an 11:00 AM first pitch against Central Missouri (4-0) (MIAA). The unit will conclude the day with a 1:30 PM outing against Texas Women's University (1-3) (LSC). To cap off the tourney, the Blue and Gold will face Missouri S&T (3-1) (GLVC) on Sunday (Feb. 8) for an 11:00 AM contest.
 
Series Histories
SAU vs. St. Edwards | Feb. 6 (11:30 AM)
5^th meeting, SEU leads series 4-0
First Meeting: 2/9/2002 – SEU won 7-0 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 3/18/2003 – SEU won 8-0 (Austin, Texas)
 
SAU vs. NW Missouri State | Feb. 6 (2:00 PM)
8^th meeting, SAU leads 4-3
First Meeting: 3/10/2007 – SAU won 4-0 (Joplin, Mo.)
Last Meeting 2/13/2022 – SAU won 6-4 (9) (Bentonville, Ark.)
 
SAU vs. Central Missouri | Feb. 7 (11:00 AM)
8^th meeting, SAU leads 5-2
First Meeting: 2/14/2009 – UCM won 3-2 (Denton, Texas)
Last Meeting: 2/7/2025 – SAU won 5-0 (Bentonville, Ark.)
 
SAU vs. Texas Women's | Feb. 7 (1:30 PM)
21^st meeting, series tied at 10-10
First Meeting: 2/12/2000 – TWU won 7-0 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 2/9/2020 – SAU won 9-4 (Tyler, Texas)
 
SAU vs. Missouri S&T | Feb. 8 (11:00 AM)
7^th meeting, SAU leads 5-1
First Meeting: SAU won 1-0 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: SAU won 10-0 (6) (Arkadelphia, Ark.)
 
SAU Notables
>>> After one weekend of action, the Muleriders escaped the Lone Star Collegiate Classic in Mansfield, Texas, with a 5-0 record. That record includes wins over NCAA DII Regional teams from a season ago, which included Metro State-Denver and ninth-ranked Augustana.
 
>>> Following opening weekend, the Muleriders saw three batters with a batting average of .400 or higher, while the unit also had five batters with an average higher than .300. Leading the way for the Blue and Gold batters was America Rubio, as the senior accounted for a .556 average after going 10-18 at the plate with two runs, two doubles, four RBI, 12 total bases, two walks, and one stolen bag. Helping the Muleriders set program records in just her weekend of action at SAU was Maddie Leal. The Houston, Texas local led Southern Arkansas in drawn walks, as she recorded eight for the weekend. Leal tallied four walks in the Muleriders' win over #9 Augustana, which accounted for the second-most walks recorded in a game by a Mulerider (Brooke Goad – 5 – 4/16/2016).
 
>>> With the best showing in the circle from a week ago, Kassie Rhodes was responsible for a 0.43 ERA, as the senior allowed just 14 hits in 62 at-bats, while also surrendering only two runs. Rhodes recorded the stellar ERA after 16.1 innings pitched.
 
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