RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech softball opens Great American Conference play this weekend in Alva, Okla., taking on Northwestern Oklahoma State in a four-game series. Play begins on Friday, Feb. 24, with a doubleheader set for 2 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday scheduled for noon.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live statistics and video for all four games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Northwestern Oklahoma State leads the all-time series against Arkansas Tech, 9-7. The Golden Suns took three of four games, however, in last season's series.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech (6-6) is coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Arkansas-Monticello Eight-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The tournament was highlighted by a 6-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth, in which Megan Goodnight, Jalissa Gum and Sarah Coronado all homered.
 
Gum leads the Golden Suns with a .385 batting average this season, while ranking 10^th in the GAC in slugging percentage. She is fourth in the conference with 13 runs batted in and fifth in total bases. Cara Tolar ranks sixth in the GAC in hits and 11^th in on-base percentage.
 
As a pitcher, Gum has struck out 64 batters, 10 more than any other player in the GAC. Morgan Vaughan leads the team with 11 appearances and three wins, while ranking ninth in the conference with a 1.96 earned-run average.
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-9) has lost its last three games, finishing the North Texas Softball Bash with a 2-4 record last weekend. The Rangers are 11^th in the GAC in team batting average and have struck out 58 times this season, most in the conference.
 
Brittany Corrales has posted a team-high .387 batting average this season, ranking 12^th in the conference. Corrales and Macy Madewell are tied with a team-leading five runs batted in this season, while Jordan Sutton is tied for fourth in the GAC in doubles.
 
Karly Murray has pitched 30.0 innings this season to lead the Rangers, posting a 6.30 earned-run average. Madison Garza has struck out a team-high 24 batters in 24.2 innings this season.