GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH GOLDEN SUNS 2-2 (0-0 GAC)	EAST CENTRAL TIGERS 4-2 (0-0 GAC)
Friday, February 26 | 6 p.m. Conway, Ark. | The Fieldhouse LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

FIRST PITCH
As if COVID-19 did not impede on college athletics enough, inclement weather decided to make an appearance, making it nearly impossible for the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns softball team to play. For the first time in two weeks, the Golden Suns will take the field to face off against East Central in their opening weekend of Great American Conference play.

With a combination of weather forecast and lingering effects of last week snow, the home-opening series has been moved to The Fieldhouse, an indoor baseball and softball training facility in Conway. The teams will face off in a single game on Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. and a double-header starting at noon on Saturday. There will be no fan attendance allowed. 

TECH TIDBITS
The Golden Suns are currently 2-2 on the season, with their most recent win against No. 9 Texas A&M-Commerce, 4-1. Freshman pitcher Shannon Lasey picked up her first collegiate win, pitching a complete game and only allowing one run off six hits. Caitlyn Wells, another freshman making her debut, went 2-for-2, with a single and a double that scored a run apiece.

Paty Loredo leads the Golden Suns with a .417 batting average and five hits. Morgyn Fulgham, Makenzie Addis and Holly Crutchfield lead with three RBIs apiece. Maddy Prough leads the pitching staff with 11 strikeouts.

East Central was the last team Arkansas Tech faced in the 2020 season before the season was canceled due to the pandemic. The Golden Suns won the series 3-1. Lexy Taylor picked up three wins in the series and Maddy Prough recorded a save in the first game of the series.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
East Central enter the weekend with a 4-2 overall record with wins over Newman, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State. Josi Goodman leads the Tigers, with a batting average of .385 followed by Megan Lesko and Rachelle Mengwasser, both hitting .318 on the season.

In their last outing, the Tigers fell to Northeastern State, 8-2. East Central recorded two runs on eight hits but were unable to stop the offense of the Riverhawks, giving up eight runs on 14 hits.