RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team will look to build upon its solid start this Thursday and Friday, playing four games at the UAM Division II invitational in Bentonville, Arkansas.

All Arkansas Tech games will be played at Memorial Park. 

The Golden Suns were 3-1 last weekend at the Southeastern Regional Invitational, and were led offensively by a group of talented newcomers who provided plenty of punch in the batting order. Bailey Bunch hit .600 from the leadoff position, adding three walks and going 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts, while Paty Loredo hit .500 with 8 RBIs, slugging .929 en route to winning the GAC's inaugural Freshman of the Week award. 

Makenzie Addis hit .462 with four RBIs, while Paige Mendoza hit .417 with four RBIs of her own. Returning all-GAC selection Megan Goodnight hit .357 in her four games. 

Kristen Dempsey and Cara Tolar proved to be solid in the opening weekend, with Dempsey going 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA over 10 innings of work. The junior fanned eight. Tolar was 1-1, but posted a 1.85 ERA, fanning 11 hitters in 11.1 innings. Both Goodnight and Bailey Shaffer also saw work, each fanning three in just over two innings of work.

Tech will open play against Northwest Missouri (0-0) and Emporia State (2-3) on Thursday at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively, before closing play with a rematch against Central Missouri (3-3) and Missouri Western (0-0) at 10 a.m. and noon on Friday.