Lady Muleriders Eliminate Golden Suns 4-1

Southern Arkansas University completed a two-game NCAA Division II Tournament super regional series sweep of Arkansas Tech University and advanced to the 2016 NCAA Division II Women’s College World Series with a 4-1 victory at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville on Thursday.

The nationally 15th-ranked Lady Muleriders (51-9) will compete for a national championship May 17-21 in Denver, Colo.

The loss capped the most successful season in Golden Suns softball history. Nationally seventh-ranked Arkansas Tech finished the 2016 campaign with an overall record of 49-11, a Great American Conference regular season championship and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament super regional. Tech’s 49 wins established a new single-season school record.

The Golden Suns took a 1-0 lead on Thursday when Janie Knowles drove in Kambri Hill with a single in the top of the third inning.

Arkansas Tech maintained that edge until the bottom of the fifth inning. A two-out error by the Golden Suns allowed SAU’s Kim Whelehon to come home with the tying run and Liz Hudgins to race in with the go-ahead run.

Maddie Dow followed with a two-run home run to set what proved to be the final margin for the Lady Muleriders.

Southern Arkansas starting pitcher Kaylee Garner (24-3) allowed one run on seven hits over five innings.

Garner recorded seven strikeouts before giving way to Kimmy Beasley, who worked two scoreless innings for her third save of 2016.

Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Jalissa Gum (22-4) was charged with four runs, none of which were earned, on four hits in five innings.