RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their opening weekend at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational in Conroe, Texas that included a 6-3 win over the #2 team in the country in Augustana, the Arkansas Tech Softball team looks ahead to another weekend against a field of non-conference opponents at the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark.. Softball currently sits at 2-4 overall on the season following their six game outing last weekend against some of the best teams in all of NCAA Divison II softball.

The Golden Suns will be up play four games across Friday and Sunday with a double-header for each day. The team will open the weekend against Quincy and Missouri-St. Louis with first pitch set to go at 11 a.m. Friday morning. The team won't play again until Sunday where they will close out the weekend against Lincoln and Wayne State with the first pitch of the double-header also planned for 11 a.m. Sunday morning.

Currently leading the Golden Sun hitters is Tymber Riley who, in her opening weekend, notched a .611 batting average, a 1.056 slugging percentage and crushed eight doubles. Opposing pitchers were also unable to strikeout Riley in all six games last weekend. For her play this past weekend, Riley was named the first GAC Player of the Week for the 2022 season.

Leading the pitching staff for the Golden Suns is Maddy Prough with a 2.50 ERA, in 14.0 innings of work and eight strikeouts. In the teams game against #1 UT-Tyler, Prough had her first start of the season and pitched a complete seven innings.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS

Last season, the Hawks finished 20-24 overall with a 12-16 record among conference play. The Great Lakes Valley Conference picked the Hawks to finish 12th overall for the 2022 season in the annual preseason coaches poll.

Last season the Hawks were led by Taylor Downen who averaged a .350 batting average alongside 15 RBI's, three HR's and four doubles. Jayle Jennings also had a solid season with a .306 batting average with 19 RBI's and five doubles. On the mound, Mackenzie Collier led the way with a 3.80 ERA, across 128.0 innings pitched while striking out 128 total batters.

SCOUTING THE TRITONS

The Tritons come into the 2022 season picked to finish ninth in the Great Lakes Valley conference. Last season, the Tritons finished with a 19-23 overall record with an even 14-14 record in conference play.

Leading the hitters last season for the Tritons was Annie Scaramuzzi with a .304 batting average alongside 13 RBI's, two homeruns, a pair of triples and seven doubles. On the mound leading the Triton pitchers was Mimi Bradley with a 2.43 ERA, 115.0 innings pitched and 81 total strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE BLUE TIGERS 

The Blue Tigers come into the 2022 season off a 6-35-1 overall record and a 3-23 record among conference games from last season.

Emily Williams led the Blue Tigers last season with a .282 batting average, with 17 RBI's, a triple and six doubles. Kendra Holt led the team in doubles last season with ten total from 2021. Leading the pitchers in the 2021 season was Maddie Welker with a 4.59 ERA, across 68.2 innings pitched with 40 total strikeouts on the season.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

The Wildcats come into the 2022 season picked to finish 15th overall according to the annual Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches poll. During their 2021 outing, the Wildcats finished with a 7-31 record overall and went 4-22 in conference games.

Kim Vidlak led the hitters last season with a .395 batting average alongside 20 RBI's, eight doubles, two triples and a pair of homeruns. Leading the pitching staff for the Wildcats was Sloan Cooksey with 101.1 innings pitched and led the team in strikeouts with 84 total.