SEARCY, Ark. – Winona State (49-12) fell 5-0 to Southern Arkansas (46-16) in the first game of the Harding Regional. The Warriors will play the loser of the Harding/Missouri Western State game, tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
 
The Muleriders hit a single with one out in the top of the first but McKenna Larsen struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Alison Nowak reached via an error in the bottom of the second, providing the Warriors with their first runner of the game. The next two batters failed to reach, keeping the game scoreless after two.
 
A pair of runners reached in the top of the third for Southern Arkansas but Larsen fielded a comebacker to end the threat.
 
In the top of the third, the Muleriders used back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with one out. Larsen induced a comebacker and strikeout to end the SAU threat.
 
Southern Arkansas again had back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the fifth as the Muleriders threatened again. Larsen seemed to get out of the jam by getting a double play ground ball to second. Unfortunately, the throw from shortstop was off target and the runner from second came home to score.
 
Winona State tried to respond in the bottom of the inning. Nowak singled to break up the SAU no-hitter to start the inning. McKenna Gutt came in to pinch run for Nowak. After two strikeouts, Allyson O'Herron singled to right center, advancing Gutt to third. The threat was neutralized when a foul ball fly out to right ended the inning.
 
Southern Arkansas got back on the board in the sixth. They would double their lead with a one-out single down the line in left. With two-out SAU loaded the bases after a walk. Before the inning was over the Muleriders scored three more times to take a 5-0 lead. WSU threatened in the bottom of the inning but left runners on second and third.
 
The Warriors finished with two hits in the game and left five on base after being put down quietly in the bottom of the seventh.