EDMOND, Okla. – After capturing a Great American Conference championship tournament last weekend, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament in Edmond, Okla. The Golden Suns capped off a stellar season with an overall record of 28-18-1 and a 21-9 record in GAC play.
The Golden Suns faced off against the No. 3-seeded and No. 14 University of Central Oklahoma in game one of the tournament and immediately took on No. 5-seeded University of Central Missouri in an elimination game.
CENTRAL MISSOURI
In the top of the first,
Abbie Cain flexed her muscles yet again, knocking a double to right field and advancing to third on a wild pitch before the Golden Suns ended the inning. Both pitching staffs from the Jennies and the Golden Suns kept each other scoreless in the first three innings as both teams went down in order in the second and third innings.
Paty Loredo launched a double down the left field line in the top of the fourth before two line outs ended the inning for Arkansas Tech. The Jennies got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 3-0 lead.
Makenzie Goins drew a walk in the top of the fifth and advanced on a single from Arrisa Harrish but the Golden Suns were unable to convert in the inning.
Makenzie Addis and Cain registered picked off a runner in the bottom of the fifth before
Kaila Cartwright forced a pop up and a ground out to end the inning. Central Missouri kept the Golden Suns scoreless and took the game 3-0.
Cain, Loredo, Goins and Harrish each recorded a hit in the game as
Maddy Prough went 3.1 innings, striking out two.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Like their three games leading into the tournament, the Golden Suns struck early against the Bronchos, scoring in the opening half inning of the game.
Tymber Riley and Cain led off with back-to-back singles before Riley scored on a double to left field from
Caitlyn Wells to put the Golden Suns up 1-0.
Shannon Lasey took down the Bronchos in order in the bottom of the first.
Holly Crutchfield drew a walk in her first at bat and advanced to second on a single from Harrish but the Golden Suns were unable to convert the momentum into runs in the second. The Bronchos tied things up in the bottom of the second inning.
The Golden Suns went up again in the top of the third inning when Wells singled to right field and scored on a double down the left field line from Addis, putting the Golden Suns up 2-1. Both teams went scoreless in fourth inning before the Golden Suns extended their lead to 3-1. Addis singled and scored after a single from Crutchfield and sacrifice fly from Riley. Central Oklahoma answered with another run in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one.
Goins opened the top of the seventh with a single through the left side and advanced to third on another single from Harrish, but the runners were stranded on base. The Bronchos scored two in the bottom of the seventh to take the game 4-3.
