MAGNOLIA, Ark. — The ninth-ranked Muleriders (23-2 | 8-1 GAC) concluded action in their three-game series against the visiting Ouachita Baptist Tigers (8-12 | 5-4 GAC). In the series doubleheader, Southern Arkansas ended up winning both games and sweeping the Tigers with 14-0 (5 inn.) and 9-2 wins against the group Arkadelphia.
SAU vs. OUA | Game Two | W, 14-0 (5 inn.)
Getting the start, and finish, in game one of the day and two of the series was Kassie Rhodes. The senior pitched her second complete game of the season, as the Quitman, Arkansas local allowed just two hits, one walk, and struck out six batters. Rhodes earned her tenth win of the season and pitched her first shutout of the campaign. In the outing, Rhodes had not given up a hit until the top of the fifth inning.
From the beginning, game two was all Blue and Gold, as the Muleriders scored in all four innings played.
The unit scored four runs in the bottom frame of the first inning. To start, Sophia Luetticke reached on a catcher's interference with one out, and was then batted in on a Regan Dillon double to center field, 1-0. Following Dillon's at-bat, America Rubio drew a walk and set up Paris Endris for a double to right center, putting both Muleriders in scoring position and scoring Dillon, 2-0. After the first pitching change for the Tigers, Rubio scored on a wild pitch, which also advanced Endris to third, 3-0. Endris was then able to score with a Kelsie Adams single, 4-0, before ending the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Muleriders picked up where they left off, as AvaMarie Perry recorded a lead-off single to right field, followed by a Jenny Bouthillier single to right field to advance Perry to third. Maddie Leal then singled to second, which scored Perry and pushed Bouthillier to second, 5-0. Luetticke reached first on a fielder's choice, throwing out Leal at second, but placed runners on the corners prior to Luetticke stealing second. After the second out of the frame, Rubio singled to the shortstop to score Bouthillier, 6-0, and advance Luetticke to third, placing runners on the corners again. For the final run of the second, Endris singled to right center field, which scored Luetticke, 7-0.
The doors were completely blown open in the bottom of the third, as Payton Owens led off with reaching first on an error by the shortstop. Owens then advanced to second on a Perry single to right field, and was scored on a Bouthillier single up the middle, 8-0. With one out, Luetticke reached first after being hit by a pitch, loading the bases. On a wild pitch, all runners advanced with Perry scoring, 9-0, Bouthillier advancing to third and Luetticke to second. Dillon was then walked and advanced to second on a Rubio single, which scored both Bouthillier and Luetticke, 11-0. On a passed ball, Dillon and Rubio both advanced to scoring position before Endris lined out, but batted in Dillon in the process, 12-0, for the final run of the third.
Two more runs were scratched across the plate for the Muleriders in the bottom of the fourth, as Leal recorded a two-out double, and was batted in on a Luetticke bomb over center field to put Team 28 up 14-0, which ended up being the final score of the game.
SAU vs. OUA | Game Three | W, 9-2
Getting the start, and win, for the Muleriders in the series finale was Emma Duncan, as the Canadian pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one hit, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out six batters. Duncan pitched until being relieved for Corie Byrd in the top of the sixth, as Byrd pitched 2.0 innings and allowed just one hit and no walks or runs.
Game three of the series saw a much different beginning from the game previous, as both teams went three-up-three-down in the first inning, but not the second.
For the Tigers in the second, after pop out, Emily Reed drew a walk and was then scored on a Morgan Uher homer over the left field wall to capture the momentum with a two-run home run for the early lead.
The Muleriders responded accordingly after that exciting start by the Tigers, as Rubio drew a lead-off walk and Endris singled through the right side to have runners on first and second. After a pop out, Owens then singled down the left field line to score Rubio and push Endris to second, 2-1 OUA up. Perry then juiced the bases with a single to right field, which commenced the first pitching change in the outing for the Tigers. Bouthillier followed it up with a single to left center field to score Endris and Owens, while advancing Perry to third, 3-2 SAU up. Leal then lined out, but in the process scored Perry to go up 4-2. Luetticke and Dillon both singled to load the bases again. On a wild pitch, Bouthillier was then able to score for the final run of the inning, 5-2.
After another two scoreless frames in the third, the Muleriders got back to scoring, as the group began the bottom of the fourth with a Perry double down the right field line. Perry was then advanced to third on a Bouthillier fly out and scored on a Leal sacrifice fly to left field, 6-2. Following the second out, Luetticke was then walked and stole second, and was then batted in a Dillon dinger to go up 8-2 to end the fourth.
Southern Arkansas in the bottom of the fifth added another run, which began after two early outs, as Owens doubled to right center field, and was then scored with a Perry single to right field, 9-2.
Up Next:
Team 28 is set for their farthest trip of the regular season, as Southern Arkansas will head to Alva, Oklahoma for the group's three-game road series against Northwestern Oklahoma State on March 13-14.
