Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Tech softball team turned in a near-flawless opener to this weekend's Great American Conference series against Southwestern Oklahoma Friday evening at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex, taking a 9-0 victory in Game 1 before some clutch defense and pitching earned them a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

The Golden Suns (23-7, 12-4 GAC) saw Whitney Robinson, Kambri Hill and Jalissa Gum each grab a pair of hits on the day — Robinson and Gum each with a home run in the run-rule victory in the opener — and Morgan Vaughan go the distance in Game 1, earning a win in a fifth consecutive start as they ran their winning streak to five in a row, 10 of their last 11 and seven of their last eight against GAC foes.

"The first game we came out and swung the bats really well," coach Kristina McSweeney said. "Whitney came up really big with a walk-off. That was incredible. The second game we just struggled at the plate a little bit, left a lot of runners on. Tomorrow we have to come out even better and take two again."

The Golden Suns had their bats held in check early in the opener, with just one runner reaching base on an error through the first 2 2/3 innings. That changed quickly after two outs in the bottom of the third, as Robinson singled to center for Tech's first hit of the day and Gum followed by lifting a ball high over the fence in center for a two-run home run to kick off the scoring. Meanwhile, Vaughan kept turning back any offensive threat from the Bulldogs (5-21, 1-13 GAC), striking out the side in the top of the first, getting a quick strikeout to end the second after giving up her first hit of the day, and stranding solo runners in the third and fourth.

With their pitcher dealing, the Suns built even more of a lead in the fourth, with Alicia Lowrey and Ashley Savage each knocking singles and Miranda Dupree following with a walk to load the bases with one out. Lowrey was cut down trying to score on an Ashley Edinger fielder's choice, but the bases remained loaded, allowing runs to score when Shanna Davidson walked, the SWOSU pitcher tossed a wild pitch, Gum walked and Janie Knowles walked, giving the Suns a 6-0 lead.

Vaughan — who finished with her seventh win of the season, striking out six and allowing just four hits and two walks to the Bulldogs — continued to work in the circle for the hosts, inducing another strikeout to end the top of the fifth. She didn't allow a runner to get past second base until there were two out in the top of the sixth, and promptly ended the threat with a groundout. The Suns took advantage in the bottom half of the inning, as Samantha Herweck started the frame with a pinch-hit single, Davidson was hit by a pitch and Robinson sent Tech into the intermission as walk-off winners, blasting a pitch over the fence in right to seal the 9-0 victory.

It didn't take long for the Suns to keep things going in the second game. Robinson drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning and stole second base two pitches later, allowing her to easily score when Gum followed with a double down the left field line. Gum moved up to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Lowrey's sacrifice fly to deep left. Tech tacked on another run in the second, as Chelsea Reeves singled to center to lead off the inning and moved to third on a single from Edinger. Davidson followed, and laid down the perfect bunt that found its way past the pitcher, first baseman and second baseman, allowing Reeves to score and runners to get on second and third with no outs.

While the Tech offense would slow down after the early burst, starter Victoria Huie and Kelsie Barker held the Bulldogs from taking the lead. Huie went into the sixth inning, allowing six hits and a pair of runs while striking out four and walking just one over 5 1/3 innings of work. After the visitors pulled within one on the scoreboard at 3-2, Barker came in and took care of the final five outs without allowing a baserunner, picking up a pair of strikeouts along the way for her fourth save of the season.

Tech and SWOSU are back in action Saturday for the final two games of their series, with a noon doubleheader at Chartwells.