MAGNOLIA, Ark. — The seventh-ranked Muleriders got action rolling at Dawson Field inside the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex again, as Southern Arkansas (27-3 | 12-2 GAC) faced the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (10-21 | 4-10 GAC). The two groups split the series doubleheader, as SWOSU claimed game one for themselves, but were countered by the Muleriders in game two to propel the series to a rubber match tomorrow at 12:00 PM.
SAU vs. SWOSU | Game One | L, 4-3 (8 inn.)
In the series opener, the Bulldogs got the better of the Muleriders, as Southwestern Oklahoma State won a defensive struggle against SAU with a 4-3 final in extra innings.
The two groups remained scoreless until SWOSU broke the silence in the top of the sixth inning. The Bulldogs started the scoring after reaching first on a throwing error towards first with one out. Up next came Sierra Woods, who advanced the runner, Landry Bayless, to second with a single to left field. SWOSU's Taylor McMahon was then thrown out at first on a sac bunt that pushed Bayless and Woods to scoring position. The Bulldogs scratched across the first two runs of the outing with a Maddie Rahon single to center field and score Bayless and Woods, prior to a pop out to end the frame, SAU down 2-0.
The Muleriders retaliated in the bottom half of the inning, as Paris Endris started it up with reaching first on a fielding error. After having Leigh Gilbert come in to pinch run for Endris, Gilbert was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice, which had Kelsie Adams reach first. Also reaching on a fielder's choice, having Adams thrown out at second, was Payton Owens. Owens then got advanced by an AvaMarie Perry single up the middle. To score both runners, Jenny Bouthillier tripled down the left field line to tie the bout at 2-2 after scoring Owens and Perry. Keeping up the two-out rally was Maddie Leal with a single to the shortstop to bat in Bouthiller to claim the lead and momentum, SAU up 3-2.
The momentum lasted only so long for SAU, as the group countered with a single to score another run in the top of the seventh to tie the matchup at 3-3.
Southern Arkansas left one runner on base in the top bottom half of the seventh, for the contest to go into extra innings, marking the second-straight series opener going into extra innings.
After having a batter reach on an error and advancing to second on a wild pitch, the Bulldogs recorded a double to left centerfield, placing runners in scoring position. After a second out, SWOSU accounted for a single to capture the lead at 4-3.
The Blue and Gold pushed the Bulldogs in the bottom of the eighth with the bases juiced, but the group came up short for its second league loss of the season.
SAU vs. SWOSU | Game Two | W, 4-3
In need of a bounce back, the Blue and Gold shifted their focus game two with the hopes of forcing a rubber match game three for the unit's Saturday matchup with the Bulldogs.
The Muleriders came out strong in the second game, as the unit held the SWOSU offense at bay in the opening frame and tacked on a run in the bottom half of the inning, as the group saw Leal come across the plate on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, giving SAU a 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Southern Arkansas added on to its lead with a pair of insurance runs by Regan Dillon. The senior from Bryant, Arkansas batted in two runs on bomb to left field that scored Sophia Luetticke, following the Chillicothe, Missouri local's double, SAU up 3-0.
Following a scoreless fourth, Southwestern Oklahoma State regrouped and tied the bout in the top of the fifth, as the group started the frame with a single a stolen base. The unit then had its runner reach third on a ground out, which she would eventually score with a single to center field, 3-1. After another single, the Bulldogs had runners on first and second, which were both batted in on a single to center field, tying the outing at 3-3.
Team 28 countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, which ended up being the difference in the game, as Leal started the frame with a single to the pitcher, and was advanced to second on a Luetticke single to left field. After a Dillon ground out, Leal and Luetticke advanced to scoring positing to put the pressure on the Bulldogs. Following the second out in the bottom of the fifth, Endris singled to the shortstop and batted in Leal to claim the lead and eventually the win.
Up Next:
The Muleriders will take on the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs for a series rubber match tomorrow at Dawson Field inside the Dr. Margaret Downing Softball Complex at 12:00 PM.
