COMMERCE, Texas – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns bounced back to their winning ways, taking down both their opponents in the final day of the Lion Invitational in Commerce, Texas. The Golden Suns offense shined in a 13-7 win over Texas A&M International and their pitching and defense were stars of a 4-1 win over #9 Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
GAME ONE
Tymber Riley opened up the game with a homer down the left field line followed by a double from Makenzie Addis and walk from Paty Loredo. Holly Crutchfield stepped up to the plate and launched a three-run homer and the Golden Suns took a 4-0 lead after the first inning.
 
The Dust Devils answered back with a three-run homer from Darrian Smith followed by a sacrifice fly, tied things up 4-4 in the top of the second inning. Both offenses quieted down until the top of the fourth. Another homer form Darrian Smith put TAMIU up 5-4 before the Golden Suns took off.
 
Arkansas Tech did not have to do much as the pitching from TAMIU dwindled, walking four and hitting two with pitches, allowed the Golden Suns to take a 9-5 lead at the end of the fourth. Both teams went scoreless through the fifth.
 
TAMIU tacked on two more runs in the sixth before the Golden Suns posted another four-run inning. A single from Morgyn Fulgham scored two after Paty Loredo and Morgan Page walked. Two more walks from Resia Bakenhus and Brooke Prewitt forced Morgan Page to score before the Dust Devils walked both Mackenzsie Goins and Addis to score Fulgham and Bakenhus.
 
The Golden Suns scored 13 runs off nine hits. Lexy Taylor picked up her first season win and Maddy Prough picked up her first save of the 2021 season. Goins led the way going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
GAME TWO
Freshman pitcher Shannon Lasey showed up ready to play, grabbing her first collegiate start and complete game win. In her first appearance on the mound, Lasey allowed one run off six hits, striking out six in the Golden Suns 4-1 victory over #9 TAMU-Commerce.
 
Like their first game of the day, the Golden Suns struck early when a single from Paty Loredo scored Tymber Riley, putting Arkansas Tech up 1-0. Errors plagued TAMU-Commerce, allowing Riley to score again in the top of the third (2-0). The Lions were kept quiet while the Golden Suns continued to attack.
 
Another freshman, Caitlyn Wells made her collegiate debut, knocking a double to score Arissa Harrish in the top of the fourth. The Golden Suns went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Defense continued to stump the Lions well into the sixth. A single from Wells brought in Holly Crutchfield, putting the Golden Suns up 4-0. The Lions managed to tack on one run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Loredo and Wells both posted two hits in the 4-1 win over the Lions. The Golden Suns recorded four runs off six hits, allowing just one run from the Lions.
 
The Golden Suns will travel to Edmond Oklahoma next weekend for the Broncho Invitational to face Washburn, Newman and Nebraska-Kearney.