RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The excitement that surrounded the Arkansas Tech softball team's first six games of the season didn't fall off as Great American Conference play started, as the No. 13 Golden Suns got a gem from Victoria Huie in the opener and came back from a seven-run deficit to grab the nightcap and sweep a doubleheader over East Central Friday afternoon at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.

Huie went the distance in a 3-1 victory in Game 1, earning her fourth win of the season by allowing only a single unearned run while striking out six for the Golden Suns (8-0, 2-0 GAC). The Tech offense did the trick in the next game, blasting 14 hits — including five home runs — and plating all 12 runs over their final four innings to best the Tigers (5-9, 2-4 GAC) 12-9.

"The comeback win was amazing," coach Kristina McSweeney said. "We didn't have our best stuff at the start, but we talk a lot about being mentally tough. It's a big deal for us, how to not panic and nibble away at a lead. A lot of it is just discipline and them understanding that we're going to climb back in it and we're not going to go away."

East Central busted out to a 4-0 lead with a grand slam in the top of the first in the finale, and added three more runs in the top of the third to go up 7-0. With the offense needing a lift after putting up two straight zeros, the bottom of the third became a team effort. Shanna Davidson led off the frame with a home run to left, followed by a Whitney Robinson single and Alex Edinger double. Courtney Colunga promptly made it a game once again with the inning's second homer, blasting one deep over the fence in left to make it 7-4. After an out, Kambri Hill singled to chase the Tigers starter, and scored as Ashley Savage put a single down the left field line.

The guests stretched their lead to 8-5 with a run in the fifth, but the Golden Suns found a way to respond. Hill, Savage and Davidson all walked around two outs to load the bases, and Robinson poked a ball to right to score Hill and Savage and make it a one-run game for the first time. Morgan Vaughan entered the circle and forced ECU into a quick 1-2-3 inning, setting Tech up for the final show, as Colunga led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer to tie it. A two-run shot from Chelsea Reeves and a two-out, two-run insurance bomb from Davidson capped off the rally that took the Suns from down three to up 13-8 in the span of just three outs.

"I was really impressed with Morgan," McSweeney said. "She came in and threw two great innings for us at the end, and it showed that our staff is pretty good."

Vaughan picked up the win, striking out three in two innings of work. In all, Vaughan, Kelsey Barker and Mary Moran tossed 4 2/3 innings of relief to hold off the Tigers while their offense could mount the comeback. With their two home runs each, Colunga and Davidson were two of five Tech batters to collect multiple hits, joining Savage and Hill, who had two each, and Robinson, who went 3-for-5 to lead the Suns.

The opening seven innings of the day were much less dramatic, mostly thanks to Huie, who scattered seven hits and didn't allow a runner past first base on her own until the fifth inning. The Suns did their damage well before that, plating all three runs in the third to give their hurler a cushion. Savage singled to start the frame, then beat out a fielder's choice off the bat of Miranda Dupree. Savage moved to third on another fielder's choice, and scored on Robinson's single to left for the first run of the day. Edinger moved Davidson and Robinson over with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Davidson to score on a wild pitch with two outs and Colunga to knock in Robinson with a single for all the runs the hosts would need.

Robinson had two of the team's seven hits in the first game, ending up 5-for-8 with two runs and three RBIs for the day.

"The first game, Victoria threw a gem," McSweeney said. "Could not have asked her to throw better, and then we got timely hits. Their pitcher was good but I think our hitters made a couple adjustments. For them to come out in this kind of temperature and this weather and play the way they did shows a lot of heart."

The Golden Suns and Tigers wrap up their four-game set with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday. Live stats will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.