BENTONVILLE, Arkansas – Southern Arkansas claimed the 2026 Great American Conference Softball Championship title as Tournament MVP Emma Duncan recorded her second shutout of the tournament, 3-0 against top-seeded Arkansas Tech, on Saturday from Tiger Athletic Complex.
Duncan, who threw a no-hitter against Henderson State on Thursday, carried another no-hitter into the seventh inning. Two base hits ended her bid to become the first GAC pitcher with multiple no-hitters at a single GAC Championships. She finished with three complete games for the Championship as she pitched all 19.0 innings for the Muleriders (46-7). She struck out 19 batters across the three appearances.
Tech’s Aly White matched Duncan through the first four innings as she allowed just one hit to that point. SAU’s Paris Endris led off the Mulerider fifth inning with a double. Leigha Gilbert entered as a pinch runner. On a fly out by Payton Evans, Gilbert took third then scored as the throw hit her foot and caromed into foul territory.
In the sixth, the Muleriders added two runs courtesy a Regan Dillon single and a Brooklyn Reed walk. Dillon, Reed, Peyton Raley and Sophia Luetticke joined Duncan on the All-Tournament Team. White, Ana Winkfield and Destiney Madewell represented Arkansas Tech (42-14). Harding’s Zoey Neal and Ella Friederich plus Oklahoma Baptist’s Kaley Cook and Jaycee Shaffer rounded out the 12-player team.
The victory gave the Muleriders their fourth GAC Championship title, to tie the Golden Suns for the most in conference history. For Tech, Saturday marked its first loss in five finals appearances.
The Muleriders will now await to see their seed, opponent and destination for the upcoming Central Region Tournament. The NCAA DII Softball Selection Show, scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday streams on NCAA.com. The Golden Suns and Oklahoma Baptist entered the week inside the top 10 of the Central Region rankings and will hope for an at-large berth.