EDMOND, Okla. - Shannon Lasey threw the sixth perfect game in Arkansas Tech softball program history and the first since the 2017 season to open Great American Conference play against East Central in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.

In the circle, Lasey struckout six in 7.0 innings of work and retired all 21 batters faced. Morgan Vaughan was the last member of the Golden Suns to throw a perfect game on March 17, 2017 at home against Southern Nazarene. Lasey's perfect game gave the Golden Suns a split in the doubleheader.

GAME ONE
The Golden Suns wasted no time getting started to open game one as Tymber Riley hit a double to right center field for the first hit of the day sending Makenzie Goins to the plate. A single through the right-side scored Riley for the first run of the game and gave Goins an RBI. In the bottom of the first, a walk with bases loaded allowed East Central to grab their first run of the game to close the opening inning tied one a piece.

The Tigers struck the next blow in the bottom of the third as a double to center field put a runner in scoring position which they would take full advantage of hitting a two run homer to take a 3-1 lead over the Golden Suns heading into the fourth inning of play.

Caitlyn Wells opened up the inning for the Golden Suns with a leadoff single. Sydney Keaton took Wells' spot at first as the pinch runner as Holly Crutchfield stepped up to the plate. Crutchfield came up with a single off a bunt that would advance her to second and send Keaton to third giving Tech two runners in scoring position. 

Brooke Prewitt managed to hit a good sac bunt to score Keaton and make it a 2-3 game as East Central still held the lead. That would be the last run the Golden Suns would manage to score as the Tigers squeaked by with a 3-2 win in game one.

Starting in the circle for Arkansas Tech was Bailey Buffington who collected two strikeouts in 3.0 innings before Kaila Cartwright came in for the rest of the game. Cartwright finished the game with two strikeouts and 3.0 innings of work. Buffington picked up the loss and moves to 4-3 on the season.

GAME TWO
Game two was all Golden Suns all the time as Lasey threw a perfect game in the circle to lead a strong defensive effort in game two.

In terms of offense, Riley once again wasted no time jump starting the Tech offense, this time with a solid crushed homer over the left field wall to give them an early 1-0 lead. Makenzie Goins would follow with a single up the middle to close out the first inning.

The Golden Sun's began the top of the second inning with a leadoff walk to Crutchfield sending Jessica Williams to the plate. Williams would find her way to first base following an error by the East Central second baseman, advancing Crutchfield to second. Kaylyn Aguirre reached first on a fielders choice following her bunt that sent Williams to third, but Crutchfield would be thrown out at home for no runs on the play.

Still in the top of the second inning, Shelby Chavers would walk sending Aguirre to second as the bases loaded up for the Golden Suns with Riley headed to the plate. Riley would deliver once again with a single to right field that advanced her to second and scored all three baserunners to give Arkansas Tech a 4-0 lead heading into the third inning.

Arkansas Tech's final two runs would come in the top of the fifth inning. Goins set up the scoring play with a single up the left side putting her on first. Following a fly out to centerfield from Wells, Brooke Prewitt drove home the final two runs of the game crushing a two run bomb over the left field wall to give the Golden Suns a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

The rest of the game was left in the hands of Lasey in the circle who closed it out in immaculate fashion with her perfect game to give the Golden Suns a split in the doubleheader with the 6-0 win in game two over East Central. Lasey picks up the win for Tech and moves to 3-3 on the season.

UP NEXT
The Golden Suns look to conclude their GAC play opening weekend at East Central with a series win tomorrow in the final game. First pitch is set to go at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning in Edmond.