BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Southern Arkansas jumped on rival Arkansas-Monticello early en route to a 6-1 win in Friday's second quarterfinal contest of the Great American Conference Under Armour Softball Championships on Friday from Tiger Athletic Complex.
 
Faith Otts hit a three-run home run in the home half of the first inning to kick-start the Mulerider (27-7) attack.  Two innings later, Jaxynn Dyson increased the SAU advantage with a run scoring single in the third. One batter later, Laina Suesue came home on an error by the Blossoms (15-23).
 
Arkansas-Monticello scored its lone run in the fourth on a Hannah Holdbrook double. The Blossoms threatened one inning later with two on and one out. Mulerider reliever Sydney Wader recorded back-to-back strikeouts to quell the threat. An RBI double by Hill in the SAU fifth rounded out the scoring.
 
Wader improved to 8-3 after throwing 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. She struck out four. Suesue and Alese Casper scored twice. Blossom starter Jamie Franks suffered the loss.
 
The Muleriders earned their first win at the GAC Championships since May 5, 2018. Southern Arkansas advances to Saturday's opening semifinal matchup. The Muleriders will take on Arkansas Tech 12:30 p.m. During CoVID protocols and inclement weather, the Muleriders and Golden Suns did not meet during the regular season.