RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The seventh-ranked Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team (49-11) had its season come to an end Thursday afternoon as the Golden Suns fell to No. 15 Southern Arkansas (51-9) 4-1 in the Central Super Regional at the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
 
The Golden Suns jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Janie Knowles slapped a hard hit ball to left field, scoring Kambri Hill from second.
 
In the fifth inning, the Muleriders made a big push. With runners at second and third and two outs, Darian Harris for SAU hit a deep fly ball to the right center field gap that was dropped, scoring a pair of runs to give Southern Arkansas the 2-1 lead. Maddie Dow for SAU followed it up with a two-run home run to center field to expand the lead to 4-1, allowing the Muleriders to advance to the NCAA D-II Championships.
 
Arkansas Tech finished its historic season with 49 wins, the program record, won its first ever Great American Conference championship, and won its first ever NCAA Regional Tournament.
 
TECH STARTING LINEUP

1. Alex Edinger (3B)
2. Gaby Vasquez (2B)
3. Jalissa Gum (P)
4. Kambri Hill (CF)
5. Destiny Crumpley (DP)
6. Janie Knowles (C)
7. Ashley Savage (LF)
8. Ashley Anderson (RF)
9. Sarah Coronado (SS)

 
SAU STARTING LINEUP

1. Liz Hudgins (CF)
2. Taylor Guin (2B)
3. Brooke Goad (LF)
4. Darian Harris (1B)
5. Maddie Dow (DP)
6. Ashton Atwell (RF)
7. Tyler Casada (C)
8. Chelsea Jordan (3B)
9. Summer Ehrig (SS)

 
SCORING PLAYS

• Tech 3^rd - J. Knowles singled to left field, RBI (2-2 KBFFFBF); K. Hill scored. (Tech 1, SAU 0)
• SAU 5^th - D. Harris reached on a dropped fly by rf, advanced to second (2-0 BB); L. Hudgins scored, unearned; K. Whelehon scored, unearned. (SAU 2, Tech 1)
• SAU 5^th - M. Dow homered to center field, 2 RBI, unearned (2-1 FBB); D. Harris scored, unearned. (SAU 4, Tech 1)

 
OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher: Kaylee Garner (24-3)
• Losing Pitcher: Jalissa Gum (22-4)
• Save: Kimmy Beasley (3)

 
NOTABLES

• It was the final game for three Golden Suns seniors, Kelsie Barker, Samantha Herweck, and Kambri Hill.

• Janie Knowles led the Golden Suns bats, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• In her final game, Hill went 2-for-3 from the plate, scored a run, and just missed hitting her third home run of the tournament in the seventh inning.
• Jalissa Gum gave up just four unearned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two in five innings.
• Morgan Vaughan pitched one scoreless inning of relief, giving up no hits or walks while striking out two.