ADA – The East Central University softball team will end the 2016 regular-season on the road at No. 20 Southern Arkansas.  The team are set to play April 23-24, with doubleheaders set to start at 1 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
The Tigers moved to 24-25 overall and 21-17 in the Great American Conference last weekend, going 3-1 against Arkansas-Monticello and earning a spot at the GAC Championship Tournament.

Senior Jordynn VanPelt led ECU for the weekend with a .667 average, two runs, eight hits, one home run and seven RBIs.  Senior Lacey Paulk also had a standout weekend, with a win in the circle (six hits, two runs, seven strikeouts) and hitting .417 at the plate.  She hit her first two career home runs, including a walk-off in the ninth in game four, while adding three other hits, two runs and five RBIs.

The Muleriders are second in the GAC standings with a 37-8 overall mark and 29-8 record after winning three-of-four at Southeastern last weekend.  SAU has a .327 team batting average and is allowing just a .195 mark.  They also have a 292 to 94 advantage in runs scored.

The Muleriders have nine key players that have played and started in all 45 games this season, with two hitting over .400.  Brooke Goad leads the team with a .406 average, 54 runs, 52 hits, 20 home runs and 45 RBIs.  Darian Harris adds a .400 average, 40 runs, 54 hits and 41 RBIs.

While SAU has five pitchers, only two have thrown over 15 innings this season.  Kimmy Beasley has a 1.11 ERA and 18-3 record, while throwing 16 complete games and seven shutouts.  She has allowed 89 hits and 31 runs, while striking out 168.  Kaylee Garner adds a 2.19 ERA and 193 record, with 14 complete games.  She has allowed 91 hits and 49 runs, while recording 143 Ks.

This weekend's games will be the 27-30^th meetings in series history, with SAU holding a slight 12-14 advantage.  The Muleriders also adds a 7-9 mark in GAC action and a 3-7 lead when playing at home.  Last season the Tigers went 3-1 at Tiger Field.