MAGNOLIA, Ark. – SWOSU Softball dropped the final leg of the three-game series with No. 7 Southern Arkansas, 9-0 in five innings.

After taking a game from the Muleriders in the opener, the Dawgs now sit at 10-22 overall and 4-11 in conference play. They handed SAU just its third loss of the season and first at home earlier in the series.

A big second inning broke the game open for the top-10 ranked Muleriders as they scored six runs to go up 8-0 after just six outs on each side. The SWOSU defense had trouble fielding multiple balls popped up in the deep infield due to the sun, which kept the inning going.

The Dawgs managed just four hits while committing three errors on defense, compared to 12 hits and a clean sheet for the Muleriders.

Lily Barfield got the start, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing six runs. Blaire Gentry entered in relief, throwing the final 2.2 innings in the circle while giving up seven hits and one earned run. All Bulldog hits came from different bats. Riley Lusk doubled. Maddie Rahon tripled.

SWOSU will return home to face East Central for a weekend series starting Friday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. before capping off the week with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.