BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns split the opening day of the Arkansas-Monticello Eight-State Classic on Friday, falling to Emporia State, 7-6, before defeating Minnesota Duluth, 6-2. Jalissa Gum highlighted the day with her first win of the season and 11 strikeouts, while also batting in four runs.
 
NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns (6-4) return to play in the Eight-State Classic on Saturday, taking on Minnesota State at 9 a.m. Arkansas Tech then finishes the tournament with a 1 p.m. contest against Missouri Western. Both games will be played at Memorial Park.
• Live stats for both games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.

 
ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP (GAME 1)

1. Cara Tolar (P)
2. Sarah Coronado (SS)
3. Jalissa Gum (LF)
4. Megan Goodnight (1B)
5. Janie Knowles (C)
6. Sarah LaChance (DP)
7. Alix Boulanger (3B)
8. Ashton Sangster (2B)
9. Sydnie Henson (CF)

Ashley Landry (RF)
 
EMPORIA STATE LINEUP

1. McKenna Davis (LF)
2. Katie Yoakum (2B)
3. Cassidy Berry (RF)
4. Danielle Sprinkle (1B)
5. Jacie Stephens (C)
6. Sarah Glass (SS)
7. Hailey Cope (3B)
8. Holly Hinkel (P)
9. Caitlin VanVleck (CF)

 
SCORING PLAYS
 

• TECH 1^st - J. Knowles flied out to cf, SAC, RBI; M. Goodnight advanced to second on the throw; J. Gum advanced to third on the throw; C. Tolar scored on the throw. (TECH 1, ESU 0)
• ESU 3^rd - Berry, C. tripled to right center, RBI; Davis, M. scored. (TECH 1, ESU 1)
• ESU 3^rd - Sprinkle, D. singled to third base, RBI; Berry, C. scored. (ESU 2, TECH 1)
• TECH 4^th - A. Sangster doubled down the lf line, RBI; G. Vasquez scored. (ESU 2, TECH 2)
• ESU 5^th - Glass, S. flied out to cf, SAC, RBI; Sprinkle, D. advanced to third on the throw; Berry, C. scored on the throw. (ESU 3, TECH 2)
• ESU 5^th - Hinkel, H. singled to right center, 2 RBI; McComb, C. scored; Sprinkle, D. scored.              (ESU 5, TECH 2)
• TECH 5^th - J. Gum doubled to left center, advanced to third on the throw, 2 RBI; S. Coronado scored; C. Tolar scored.                (ESU 5, TECH 4)
• TECH 5^th - J. Knowles tripled to left field, RBI; J. Gum scored. (ESU 5, TECH 5)
• TECH 5^th - S. LaChance reached on a fielding error by ss, RBI; J. Knowles scored. (TECH 6, ESU 5)
• ESU 6^th - Stephens, J. doubled to right center, advanced to third on a throwing error by 3b, 2 RBI; Sprinkle, D. scored; Davis, M. scored. (ESU 7, TECH 6)

 
OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher – Eryn Stockman (3-4)
• Losing Pitcher – Bailey Shaffer (2-1)

 
ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP (GAME 2)

1. Cara Tolar (RF)
2. Ashton Sangster (2B)
3. Jalissa Gum (P)
4. Megan Goodnight (1B)
5. Sarah LaChance (DP)
6. Janie Knowles (C)
7. Gaby Vasquez (LF)
8. Sydnie Henson (CF)
9. Sarah Coronado (SS)

Alix Boulanger (3B)
 
MINNESOTA DULUTH LINEUP

1. Hannah Schmoll (CF)
2. Natalie Wright (2B)
3. Becky Smith (SS)
4. Kalynn Tilton (1B)
5. Lauren Oberle (3B)
6. Hannah Bloch (C)
7. Ashley Taipale (DH)
8. Jayme Langbehn (LF)
9. Sammi Sadler (RF)

Breanna Swint (P)
 
SCORING PLAYS

• TECH 1^st - M. Goodnight homered to left center, 2 RBI; C. Tolar scored. (TECH 2, UMD 0)
• TECH 3^rd - J. Gum homered to center field, 2 RBI; C. Tolar scored. (TECH 4, UMD 0)
• TECH 4^th - S. Coronado homered to left field, RBI. (TECH 5, UMD 0)
• UMD 4^th - Smith, B. homered to right center, 2 RBI; Wright, N. scored. (TECH 5, UMD 2)
• TECH 5^th - S. LaChance doubled to right center, RBI; M. Goodnight advanced to third; J. Gum scored. (TECH 6, UMD 2)

 
OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher – Jalissa Gum (1-2)
• Save – Morgan Vaughan (3)
• Losing Pitcher – Breanna Swint (0-1)

 
NOTABLES

• The first game featured four lead changes, and a four-run fifth inning for the Golden Suns look to be a game-clinching rally, but a two-run double by the Hornets in the following half-inning once again gave the lead back to Emporia State.
• Arkansas Tech homered a season-high three times in the victory over Minnesota Duluth. Goodnight started the offense with her third home run of the season, and Gum followed with her third homer, as well. Coronado then joined the action with her first home run of the season.
• Gum and Vaughan made pitching appearances in both games for Arkansas Tech, as Gum totaled 14 strikeouts in just 6.1 innings.
• Goodnight and LaChance led the Suns with four hits each on the day, while Gum led the team with four runs batted in. Knowles and LaChance each batted in two runs in both games combined.