MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (14-7, 9-3 GAC) are back inside Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field this weekend as they prepare to host the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers (12-13, 5-7 GAC) for a three game GAC series. First pitch of the Friday double header is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
 
Broadcast Information
The three-game series will be broadcast on the Southern Arkansas University Hudl Tv with Dan Gregory and Ryan Phillips calling all the action on Friday with Jeff Harrington joining Dan Gregory on Saturday. The game will also be broadcast on 99.1 KVMZ FM.
 
Series History vs. NWOSU
SAU vs NWOSU || 3/13 (3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.) 3/14 (12:00 p.m.
SAU leads 30-9
First meeting: 2/23/2013 – SAU wins 9-3
Last meeting: 5/1/2025 – SAU wins 3-1
 
SAU Notables
>>> The Muleriders are coming off a three-game sweep over the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers as they outscored them 27-7 in the series. The Muleriders are winners of their last four games as they took the final game of the Arkansas Tech series and swept Ouachita over the weekend.
 
>>> Last time the two teams met was in Enid, Oklahoma as they played in the first round of the Great American Conference tournament. Southern Arkansas got the best of the Rangers in the opener winning 3-1. Returner Will Kates started the contest allowing one earned run through 6.1 innings pitched. The Muleriders scored two in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the win.
 
>>> The Muleriders are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Arkansas Tech and UAM. The Muleriders sweep over the Tigers helped them keep pace at the top of the standings as the previous number one Southeastern Oklahoma State fell after dropping two games this past weekend.
 
>>> Wyatt Fielding leads the way for the offense with his .400 batting average through 21 games played. The junior leads the team with nine doubles and five home runs while also being tied for the team lead in RBI with 18. His mark of .400 ties him for 14th in the league while his nine doubles have him tied for third in the league. His nine doubles also tie him for 24th in all Division II.
 
>>> Preston Smith leads the team in triples with four while also leading the league and being tied for second in all of Division II.
 
>>> The Mulerider pitching staff currently leads the GAC in ERA as the staff has combined for a 4.73 ERA. The next closest school is Harding with a 5.22 ERA.
 
>>> Eli Hutcherson leads the way on the mound for the Muleriders with his 2.91 qualifying ERA. Hutcherson also leads the team in strikeouts with 33 through six games started he also leads the team in innings pitched with 34. Easton Hurley trails right behind Hutcherson with a 3.69 ERA.
 
NWOSU Notables
>>> The Rangers come into this weekend with a 12-13 overall record while being 5-7 in conference play. They are losers of their last two contests coming into the weekend after dropping the last game of the series to Southeastern Oklahoma State and losing in midweek action to Rogers State on Tuesday by a final score of 2-12.
 
>>> The Rangers offense is led by Cole Barton with a batting average of .326 while also leading in hits (30), doubles (6), and RBI (17). Joel Lindahl is second on the team in batting average with a .318 batting average.
 
>>> The Rangers pitching staff ranks third in the conference in pitching ERA with a mark of 5.44. Logan Sandoval leads the team in qualifying ERA with a mark of 3.15 while also leading the team in inning pitched 34.1, complete games (2), and WHIP (1.40). Will Kates is second on the team in qualifying ERA with a mark of 4.80 while tying for the team lead in strikeouts with 26.
 
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