ARKADELPHIA - The Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders shutout Henderson State in their GAC softball series over the weekend. They blanked the Lady Reddies 9-0 in five innings on Sunday after taking Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 4-2 and 2-1.
It was the second year in a row that SAU has swept the Lady Reddies. This time last year, Sydney Ward pitched her most recent no-hitter in which she has now done once again 365 days later. This marks the senior's fourth career no-hitter and the program's 20th.
SAU is back on the diamond today at Dawson Field for a GAC doubleheader against UAM. The first contest starts at 4 p.m.
In the outing against the Lady Reddies, Ward pitched all five innings, struck out five batters, walked just one batter, played a part in eight groundouts and two flyouts, and faced just 16 batters. In her previous three no-hitters she pitched 18 innings, allowed five walks, one hit by pitch, struck out 25 batters, and outscored opponents 27-0.
Those previous n0-hitters were March 10, 2023 vs. Henderson State; Feb. 11, 2023 vs. Truman State; and April 19, 2022 vs. Delta State.
Regan Dillon led the squad in batting as she went 2-3 with three runs batted in and a home run with the second at-bat of the contest. Dillon's bomb resulted in a two-run dinger as she batted in Kamryn Moctezuma following the senior's lead-off base hit.
Jenna Huey was responsible for the second dinger for the Muleriders as she homered into left center field to put the run rule in effect. Bella Angelo recorded her first home run of her Southern Arkansas career as she added one final insurance run for the SAU 9-0 victory.
The Muleriders took control of game three from the beginning as they accounted for a four-run first inning to then add on five more runs for the remainder of the afternoon.
Seven different Muleriders recorded a run with Gracie King and Angelo each accounting for a pair of runs.