SUNS HEAD WEST FOR FOUR-GAME SET AT EAST CENTRAL
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team (23-9, 14-6 Great American Conference) looks to continue its winning ways this weekend as the Golden Suns head to Ada, Oklahoma for a four-game set against East Central (14-16, 9-11) to be played this Friday and Saturday. Friday's doubleheader is set for a noon start.
GAME COVERAGE
Live video and statistics are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Golden Suns hold an all-time 15-6 advantage in the series dating back to the 2011 season. Tech has won 12 consecutive games against the Tigers, going back to the 2014 season.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN SUNS
Arkansas Tech sits in fourth place in the Great American Conference, one game behind Harding and Southeastern Oklahoma, who are tied at 15-5 for second place in the league. Southern Arkansas is 18-2 in GAC play with a three-game lead over SE and SAU. Tech has been led in the circle by the solid pitching of
Megan Goodnight, whose 7-1 record is backed by a 1.71 ERA. Goodnight has set the school's single-season saves record already with seven.
Bailey Shaffer and
Kristen Dempsey follow Goodnight, with Shaffer coming primarily out of the pen to post a 7-1 record with a 3.29 ERA and Dempsey going 6-2 with a 3.30 ERA.
Cara Tolar returned to form with a solid outing against Oklahoma Baptist last weekend and looks to play a key role for the Tech pitching staff down the stretch. Offensively, Arkansas Tech has the highest team batting average in the Great American Conference, hitting a combined .348.
Sydnie Henson (.391) leads the way for the Golden Suns with
Bailey Bunch (.385) close behind. Each regular starter for the Golden Suns is hitting over .300 on the season, while Goodnight (.363, 7 HR) and
Makenzie Addis (.350, 6 HR) have flashed some power numbers for the Golden Suns.
Paty Loredo (.338, 4 HR) earned GAC Freshman of the Week honors after hitting .500 and bashing two homers in the series finale over Oklahoma Baptist.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central sits in sixth place in the Great American Conference, one game behind Henderson State for fifth and one game ahead of Ouachita Baptist for seventh. ECU is looking for its second outright series win of the season; having swept an earlier series with SWOSU and split with Ouachita Baptist. The Tigers have dropped three of four on three straight weekends, but have shown flashes of brilliance along the way. Freshman hurler Angel Stoker (5-3, 3.57 ERA) picked up one win after holding Southern Arkansas to three hits in 5.1 innings of work, while fellow freshman Jacey Henry stepped in to collect the save, tossing 1.2 perfect innings in relief. Offensively, Breecia Crawford (.400, 2 HR) leads the way, while Catherine Barrera (.359, 8 XBH) and Alissa Taylor (.343, 5 HR) have provided some firepower for the Tigers. The Tigers rank in the middle of the pack in team batting average, hitting .295 through 30 games while in the pitchers circle, ECU's 4.93 team ERA is tied with Northwestern Oklahoma for eighth in the league. The Tigers do boast the most efficient fielding unit in the league, however, leading the GAC with a .973 fielding percentage.
-FIGHTON-
