BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Great American Conference schedule has officially come to a close with the conclusion of the 2026 Great American Conference Tournament Championship. After making their fifth-straight appearance in the title game, and claiming back-to-back tournament championships, Team 28 brings home another GAC Tournament Title back to Magnolia. With the win, Southern Arkansas has also clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament, May 14-16.
To clinch the repeat, the Muleriders took on the top-seeded Arkansas Tech Golden Suns, who clinched the league's regular season title. The Blue and Gold was victorious after another dominant day from Coach Jason Anderson's defense, plus some key batting from the Mulerider lineup to insure the triumph. Southern Arkansas went on to defeat the Golden Suns with a 3-0 final score.
Championship vs. ATU | W, 3-0
Delivering another impressive performance in the circle, for the third-consecutive day, Emma Duncan pitched complete game number 21 and her tenth shutout of the campaign. With the win, Duncan improved to 28-3 on the year. In the championship, Emma pitched a no-hitter for six innings before surrendering the only two hits for ATU on the day, while also allowing just one walk. Duncan was also responsible for seven Ks, while having also fanned multiple batters in three frames.
Both groups' offenses looked to find its footing, with the unfolding of an old fashioned pitchers duel taking place at the Tiger Athletic Complex. Both defenses seemed impenetrable, that is until the Muleriders were able to finally break through in the bottom of the fifth inning, which was led off with a lead-off double by Paris Endris. To pinch run for Endris, the speedy Leigha Gilbert came in for Paris at second base. After a pop out to third base, Payton Owens came to plate and flied out to centerfield, which was far enough for Gilbert to take third. With an errant throw from centerfield rushed to third, Gilbert rounded the base and scored for the 1-0 lead.
Southern Arkansas then shutdown the ATU offense again, and the unit had found its footing in the bottom of the sixth. To lead off, Peyton Raley singled through the left side and then made her way to second on a Maddie Leal bunt single. After a popped up bunt to the catcher, then came America Rubio, who reached first on a fielder's choice, which had Leal get thrown out at second. Pinch running for Rubio, Briana Jones took her spot at first and advanced to second while Raley scored on a Regan Dillon single to right field, 2-0. Kelsie Adams then came in to pinch run for Dillon, and soon made her way to second as Endris drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. To tack on one more insurance run, Brooklyn Reed drew the second-straight walk and scored Jones from third, 3-0.
With three outs remaining, the Golden Suns did not back down, as the unit recorded its first hit of the day with a single to right center. To follow that lead-off single, the unit then batted into a 6-4-3 double play, shifting all of the momentum back to the Blue and Gold. The group managed to get one more single, but it was all for not, as the next batter immediately popped up to Ame Rubio to commence the field rush.
With the tournament title secured, the Muleriders have now recorded their fourth GAC Tournament Championship and tie for the most by a single program with Arkansas Tech. Southern Arkansas has also accounted for the first back-to-back tournament championships since the Golden Suns pulled it off in 2021-22.
All-Tournament Team
The Muleriders dominant run in the GAC Tournament was shown with the unit's showing in the Great American Conference All-Tournament Team, as Team 28 made up five of the 12-member team. Making the team for the Muleriders was Brooklyn Reed, Sophia Luetticke, Regan Dillon, Peyton Raley, and the Tournament's Most Valuable Player, Emma Duncan.
Up Next:
Team 28 now awaits for their name to be called on the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Selection Show on Monday, May 11. For more information on the upcoming postseason, click here, NCAA.com
