BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Janie Knowles went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, smashing her 10^th home run of the season, while Megan Goodnight and Sydnie Henson turned in two-hit performances as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team (40-17) downed Ouachita Baptist (25-28) 10-2 in five innings in the opening round of the Great American Conference softball championships.
 
NEXT UP

• Arkansas Tech will face off against sixth seed Harding in a 10:30 a.m. contest on Thursday, May 3 at the Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville.

OUACHITA BAPTIST LINEUP

1. Kelly Powell (CF)
2. Natalie Jackson (2B)
3. Sarah Johnson (C)
4. Sloane Precure (3B)
5. Tobi Finley (RF)
6. Madison Crosby (SS)
7. Kelsey O'Brien (DP)
8. Paige Purifoy (LF)
9. Gabby Gonzalez (1B)
   Marissa Butler (P)

ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP

1. Bailey Bunch (2B)
2. Ashton Sangster (CF)
3. Paty Loredo (DP)
4. Janie Knowles (1B)
5. Paige Mendoza (3B)
6. Megan Goodnight (P)
7. Sarah Coronado (SS)
8. Sydnie Henson (LF)
9. Makenzie Addis (C)
   Alix Boulanger (RF)

SCORING PLAYS

• Tech 2^nd – J. Knowles homered to left field, RBI. (Tech 1, OBU 0)
• OBU 3^rd – N. Jackson doubled to left field, RBI; K. Powell advanced to third; G. Gonzalez scored. (OBU 1, Tech 1)
• OBU 3^rd – S. Precure singled through the right side, RBI; N. Jackson advanced to third; K. Powell scored, unearned. (OBU 2, Tech 1)
• Tech 3^rd – J. Knowles singled to shortstop, RBI; A. Sangster scored. (Tech 2, OBU 2)
• Tech 3^rd – S. Coronado walked, RBI; M. Goodnight advanced to second; P. Mendoza advanced to third; J. Knowles scored. (Tech 3, OBU 2)
• Tech 4^th – P. Loredo doubled to center field, RBI; A. Sangster scored. (Tech 4, OBU 2)
• Tech 4^th – J. Knowles doubled to center field, RBI; P. Loredo scored. (Tech 5, OBU 2)
• Tech 4^th - M. Goodnight singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI; P. Mendoza scored; J. Knowles scored. (Tech 7, OBU 2)
• Tech 4^th – S. Coronado doubled to center field, RBI; M. Goodnight scored. (Tech 8, OBU 2)
• Tech 4^th – M. Addis doubled to center field, 2 RBI; S. Henson scored; S. Coronado scored. (Tech 10, OBU 2)

OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher: Megan Goodnight (15-4)
• Losing Pitcher: Marissa Butler (12-12)
• Save: Cara Tolar (2)

NOTABLES 

• Ashton Sangster set a new GAC tournament single-game record with three stolen bases, improving to 30-for-30 on the year.
• Goodnight improved to 15-4 on the season after scattering four hits over three innings of work, allowing two unearned runs.
• Tolar allowed one run over two innings of work, fanning four to pick up her second save of the season.
• The win pushes Arkansas Tech above the 40-win plateau – the third time Arkansas Tech has reached that mark under head coach Kristina McSweeney.
• With the exception of Knowles' leadoff homer in the second inning, Tech scored all of its runs with two outs - including the seven-run fourth.