BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Kambri Hill combined to go 5-for-8, slamming a pair of home runs as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team (2-0) started the season off with a pair of wins on Friday evening at the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas, topping Northwest Missouri State 8-6 and downing No. 18 Emporia State 7-2.

In game one against Northwest Missouri State, the Bearcats got on the board first, plating the first run of the game on a double steal, but the Suns rallied back, as Ashley Savage smashed a two-run homer to give the Golden Suns an early 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

The Bearcats returned the favor, scoring three runs in the third to pull ahead 4-2, before Arkansas Tech was able to narrow the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the inning on an error.

Northwest Missouri added a pair of runs in the fifth to push its lead to 6-3, before Hill added an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to pull Tech to within 6-4.

With the Golden Suns down by two runs and down to their final three outs, Arkansas Tech staged its rally. Courtney Colunga led off the inning with a single up the middle, and after being lifted in favor of a pinch runner, Hill added an infield single to put runners at first and second and place the tying run on first base. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and an RBI grounder pulled the Golden Suns to within 6-5 and put the tying run on third base.

Miranda Dupree followed with a bunt single to score the tying run 6-6 and send the game into extra innings.

The teams went in order in the eighth inning, and after a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, Sydnee Clark faced the minimum number of hitters after inducing a double play.

A leadoff single by Jalissa Gum put the winning run on base for the Golden Suns. Tech attempted a sacrifice bunt to move Gum into scoring position, but the lead runner was cut down and the Suns were forced to settle for the fielder's choice.

Hill stepped to the plate, and smashed a walk-off two-run homer to left center to give the Golden Suns the 8-6 victory.

Mary Moran and Sydnee Clark combined to throw four no-hit, shutout innings, with Clark picking up the win.

"We are that group, you can't count us out," said the Golden Suns head coach Kristina McSweeney.

During the nightcap, the game remained scoreless until the top of the third. Courtney Colunga used a sacrifice fly to score Shanna Davidson, while Emporia State rallied back with two runs to pull ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning.

After both teams notched scoreless fourth and fifth innings, the Golden Suns turned on the power in the sixth inning. Gum blasted a solo homer to knot the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Hill hit her second blast of the day, a two-run shot that gave the Golden Suns a 4-2 lead.

Three batters and one out later, Whitney Robinson added the coup de grace, blasting a three-run homer that gave the Golden Suns a 7-2 advantage.

Emporia was able to put a runner in scoring position in the seventh, but would threaten no further as the Golden Suns held on for the win.

Victoria Huie took the win after pitching four scoreless innings in relief, allowing six hits and fanning three.

"We did a great job coming back against a very good Emporia team," said McSweeney, "We came out and played hard and this will be a very good team to watch."

The Golden Suns will play against Nebraska-Kearney at 9 a.m. and conclude this weekend's tournament against Minnesota State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 14. Due to the threat of inclement weather, the games
for Sunday have been canceled.