RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech softball team (36-3, 26-2 Great American Conference) is set to host one of its biggest home showdowns of the season this weekend, as the Golden Suns will play No. 23 Southern Arkansas (31-4, 23-4 GAC) in a battle of the two top teams in the GAC.
 
Tech is coming off a fantastic road series at Arkansas-Monticello (23-19, 17-13 GAC). The Suns swept the Cotton Blossoms in four games, 4-2, 12-7, 7-0, and 6-3.
 
Jalissa Gum put together an outstanding series, earning Co-GAC Player of the Week honors after going 8-for-13 in the series with two home runs, eight RBIs and eight runs scored. Gum pitched a complete-game shutout and bashed two home runs in the Golden Suns' 7-0 win.
 
Destiny Crumpley also put together a strong series from the plate, going 8-for-14 with two homers, 10 RBIs, and three runs scored.
 
Morgan Vaughan moved to 14-0 on the season from the pitcher's circle with a pair of victories. In her two wins, Vaughan pitched 11 innings and gave up just four runs (three earned) on 12 hits with two walks and struck out five.
 
The first doubleheader is slated for Friday, April 8 at 3 p.m. in the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex. The Golden Suns will then host the second-annual Pack the Berm on Saturday, April 9 at noon.