RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - After competing in three weekend tournaments against a field of non-conference opponents to start the 2022 season, the Arkansas Tech softball team opens Great American Conference play at East Central for a three-game series this weekend. The series was first scheduled to be played Friday-Saturday, but due to the winter weather that made its way in, the series was pushed back to Sunday-Monday.

SCOUTING EAST CENTRAL
The Tigers come in with a 2-9 overall record and will also be opening Great American Conference play this weekend.

Statistically this season, the Tigers are hitting .291 as a team (75-for-258) with 35 runs scored, 11 doubles and three home runs. Entering the weekend, the Tigers have two players hitting .400 or better and are led by Kenzie Lasker with a .450 average (9-for-20).

Looking at power numbers, East Central has three players with a home run. Gabi Quintanilla, Rachelle Mengwasser and Kaleigh Ham account for the trio of homers hit by the team. Lasker leads the Tigers in RBI's with seven, while Megan Lesko is second with five total RBI's on the season.

On the mound, the Tigers have a 7.47 team ERA and have struck out 40 batters in 60.0 innings of work.

Four total pitchers have appeared in a game so far this season for the Tigers. Taia Harris has started six games, while Taryn O'Brien has started three. Harris is 1-5 with a 4.71 ERA and has 26 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work. O'Brien is 1-2 with an 8.75 ERA and has struck out eight batters in 16.0 innings.

TECH TIDBITS
The Golden Suns enter the weekend at 9-7 overall and are coming off a close 2-4 loss against Fort Hays State in extra-innings.

Offensively, the Golden Suns are hitting .303 as a team (129-for-426) with 104 total runs scored, 29 doubles, two triples and 26 home runs. Entering the weekend, the Golden Suns have five batters with at least 10 at-bats hitting .300 or better and are currently led by Tymber Riley's .479 average (23-for-48).

In terms of power numbers, the Golden Suns are led by Caitlyn Wells. She is currently the team leader in home runs with six total so far this season. Holly Crutchfield follows closely behind with five, while Riley and Shelby Chavers have four homers each. Wells also leads the teams in total RBI's with 21.

On the mound, the Golden Suns have a team ERA of 3.26 and have struckout 97 batters in 103.0 innings of work. Shannon Lasey has six starts on the season while Bailey Buffington and Maddy Prough have five starts and have recorded the most innings at 32.0 and 28.2, respectively. Lasey is 2-3 with a a 5.08 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Prough is 3-2 with a 3.66 ERA and has struckout 24 batters in 28.2 total innings. Buffington is 4-2 with a 1.09 ERA and has collected a team leading 30 strikeouts in 32.0 innings of work.

In relief, the Golden Suns have notched a pair of saves from Lasey and Prough.