TOPEKA, Kan. — Late-arriving bats could not slow the red-hot Arkansas Tech offense, as the No. 23 Golden Suns staged a seventh-inning rally to take a 4-2 victory in their opener against Washburn, and continued the momentum through a 12-6 win in the nightcap, sealing a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday.

Washburn (18-12) did its offensive damage in the opener in the very first inning, chasing starter Morgan Vaughan before she could record an out. With Washburn ahead 1-0, Vaughan gave way to Sydnee Clark, who induced a double play from the first hitter she saw, scoring one more run for the Ichabods and giving Washburn an early 2-0 advantage.

Leading off the second, Kambri Hill belted a solo homer to pull the Golden Suns (27-7) to within 2-1, but the Golden Suns offense could not sustain any further offense in the inning.

Clark dueled  with Washburn starter Lauren Thimmesch over the next four innings, with Washburn taking its 2-1 lead into the final inning.

After Thimmesch retired the first two Golden Suns hitters of the inning, Samantha Herweck drew a two-out walk, putting the tying run on base. Alicia Lowrey then delivered a pinch-hit double to tie the game at 2-2, and Shanna Davidson followed with a go-ahead double to give the Golden Suns their first lead of the contest.

After Whitney Robinson drew a walk, another pinch hit, this time coming off the bat of Ashley Anderson, added another run to the Tech lead.

With Tech ahead 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff error brought the tying run to the plate for Washburn. However, Clark retired the next three hitters she saw to seal the victory.

Clark improved to 7-2 on the season after tossing seven scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits and fanning four while only walking one.

The hits came early and often for the Golden Suns in the nightcap, as a leadoff homer by Robinson and a two-run homer by Lowrey put Arkansas Tech ahead 3-0 before the first out was recorded in the first inning.

Washburn added a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the Tech lead to 3-2, but the Golden Suns recovered the run in the top of the second on an RBI double by Miranda Dupree. An RBI double by Robinson in the third pushed the Suns' lead to 5-2, and the Golden Suns blew the game open in the fourth, as an RBI single by Dupree, an RBI grounder by Ashley Savage, and a three-run homer by Chelsea Reeves gave Arkansas Tech a 10-2 lead.

The Ichabods would capitalize on a pair of defensive miscues in the bottom of the fifth inning to score three unearned runs, pulling to within 10-5.

Lowrey busted out the big bat once again, smashing a two-run homer in the seventh to extend the Tech lead to 12-5. Washburn loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but came away with just one run as the Golden Suns held on for the win and clinched the sweep.

Lowrey was 3-for-3 with four RBIs in the win, while Kambri Hill also added three hits. Robinson, Reeves, and Dupree all added two hits.

Victoria Huie picked up the win for the Golden Suns, improving to 9-3 on the season after tossing 6.1 innings and scattering eight hits and allowing six runs, only two of which were earned. The senior walked two and fanned one before giving way to Kelsie Barker in the seventh, who picked up the final two outs of the game.

The Golden Suns now head to Alva, Oklahoma for a four-game set with Northwestern Oklahoma on Thursday and Friday. First pitch Thursday is set for 4 p.m.