MAGNOLIA, Ark. — The No. 8 Muleriders are back in action for Great American Conference play, as Southern Arkansas hits the road to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for the group's three-game series against Henderson State.
Broadcast Information
This weekend's contests will be broadcast live on the ReddieAthletics YouTube channel.
Series History
SAU vs. HSU| Mar. 27-28
105th Meeting: SAU leads series 67-38
First Meeting: 3/9/1999 – SAU won 5-4 (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 5/1/2025 – SAU won 9-3 (Bentonville, Ark. | GAC Tournament)
SAU Notables
>>> The Muleriders are coming off sweeping a midweek doubleheader against the Midwestern State Mustangs, as Southern Arkansas went on to defeat MSU 8-0 (6 inn.) and 6-2. The Blue and Gold currently sit at 30-3 with a 13-2 record in league play.
>>> The Muleriders continue to lead the GAC in numerous statistical categories, with the group most notably having the seventh-most hits in the nation with 315. The group has also been phenomenal scoring, as the unit ranks sixth in the nation for runs batted in (210) and RBI per game (6.77), while also being seventh nationally in scoring offense with an average of 7.39 runs per game. SAU's total runs scored this season currently sits at 229, which is the eighth-most in DII.
>>> In the circle, the Muleriders pitching staff has been superior amongst GAC groups, as the squad ranks 22nd nationally for ERA and leads the conference with a 2.26 ERA. Southern Arkansas' staff has allowed the fewest hits allowed per seven innings in the league, with the unit ranking 15th nationally with an average of 5.57 hits allowed per game.
>>> Leading the Muleriders in batting average this season has been Maddie Leal, as the grad student is batting a .471 average, as one of three members in the Blue and Gold with an average of .400 or higher. Also with an average of .400 or higher are America Rubio (.442) and Regan Dillon (.407). Dillon is currently on a 15-game hitting streak. She currently sits at second for hits with 44, behind Leal with 48. With the most runs scored this campaign, Sophia Luetticke has accounted for 42 runs. Two Muleriders have recorded 30+ RBI, with those being Paris Endris with 38 and America Rubio with 37.
>>> The Muleriders' pitching staff has been strong all season, as the group is led by grad student Emma Duncan and senior Kassie Rhodes. Duncan, a native of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Canada, leads the group in ERA with 1.53. That earned run average currently leads the GAC. She has also completed 11 games and has six shutouts this season, with her eleventh CG and sixth SHO coming in her start against Midwestern State. Duncan has pitched the most innings by anyone in the staff, recording 114.2 innings pitched, while also leading the group in strikeouts with 121. Rhodes has been excellent as the Muleriders' primary game two pitcher. The Quitman, Arkansas local has accounted for an ERA of 2.72 over 72.0 innings pitched. She has produced one shutout with five complete games. With at least 50 innings pitched, Rhodes has allowed the fewest walks on the staff with just 17 given up.
HSU Notables
>>> The last time the Reddies and the Muleriders had met was at the Great American Conference Tournament in Bentonville, Arkansas last season. The Muleriders came out on top in that bout with a one-sided 9-3 win. Henderson State looks for its third conference series win, as the group has most recently swept Southern Nazarene in conference action. On Wednesday, HSU took on Texas Women's University and fell in both outings with final scores of 5-3 and 11-1. Right now, the Reddies sit at 13-18 with a 6-9 record in the GAC.
>>> Leading Henderson State in batting average is Hilary Akers, who has tallied up an average of .390 with a team-high 39 hits. Akers also leads the Reddies in runs scored with 24, while having the second-most RBI with 17. With the most RBI recorded by Josie Copeland with 18.
>>> The Reddies have two pitchers with 80+ innings pitched, with the group being led by Presley Applegate with 99.1 innings pitched. The senior has recorded the lowest ERA amongst the staff, as she has recorded a 2.68 ERA.
Follow the Muleriders
For all the latest information on Mulerider Athletics, visit MuleriderAthletics.com. To stay up-to-date, follow the Muleriders on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
