BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Mulerider Softball has finished up action in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, and in a big way, as the Southern Arkansas took on and handled Missouri S&T with a 15-4 final score in five innings. With the dominating victory, team 28 has moved to 10-0 in the new campaign, again marking the first time done so since the 2023 season. Much like that season, the Muleriders head into the crossover between the MIAA and GAC.
The Blue and Gold saw many great performances against the Miners, which included two-hit days by America Rubio, Sophia Luetticke, Paris Endris, and Payton Owens. Not just that, but four Muleriders recorded home runs in the affair with Regan Dillon, Rubio, Kelsie Adams, and Endris all doing so.
Southern Arkansas saw two pitchers enter the circle and handle business, with Kassie Rhodes receiving the start and Addie Morris closing out the bout.
Off the rip, Rhodes saw the first three batters from MS&T come up and go down in the top frame of the first inning.
The Muleriders then started the scoring, as Luetticke batted in Maddie Leal with a single after Leal had reached on base due to a walk. Luetticke's at-bat also pushed Rubio to second after the senior got on base with a single. Soon after those events, Rubio was able to take home on a wild pitch and score the Muleriders second run of the game. Following that up was Jenny Bouthillier singling to right field and batting in Luetticke for the final run of the inning, SAU up 3-0.
Missouri S&T was able to answer back in the top frame of the second, as the group tacked on a two-run homer with two outs, which brought the score back within one at 3-2.
While the Miners had created some adversity for the Muleriders, Team 28 did not think so, as the unit accounted for a pair of dingers from Adams (one run) and Endris (two runs). That was not it though, as AvaMarie Perry then batted in a run that scored Briana Jones. Making her way back around for another at-bat, Leal doubled to left field and scored both Perry and Owens. Also coming back for another at-bat was Rubio, as the senior homered to score her and Leal, thus concluding the ten-run frame of the third, with SAU leading 13-2.
The Miners looked to return the favor, and hung a crooked number doing so, but the unit's efforts proved to take the run-rule effect out of place for a moment, bringing the score to 13-4.
Regan Dillon had other plans however, with the senior tallying the fourth home run of the contest, extending the lead back to double digits, up 14-4. Team 28 was not done scoring though, as Endris singled to bat in another run for Rubio, up 15-4 for the final score.
Up Next:
The Muleriders next weekend of action takes place in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the MIAA/GAC Crossover tournament. Southern Arkansas will take on three of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Preseason Coaches Poll. The tournament is set to take place over two days (Feb. 13-14).
