CONROE, Texas – The Arkansas Tech softball team wrapped up play at the ATU Winter Invitational on Monday and took on a pair of nationally-ranked opponents in No. 18 Angelo State and No. 1 UT-Tyler.
The Golden Suns (2-4) would end up dropping both games, losing 11-1 to Angelo State and 5-3 to UT-Tyler.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Golden Suns retired the Rambelles in order, but Angelo State found their footing in a powerful way over the next three innings, scoring multiple runs.
In the top of the second, the Rambelles hit a three-run home run to score the game's first runs. An inning later, Angelo struck for five more runs on the strength of a trio of homers. A second three-run homer by the Rambelles in the fourth inning capped their scoring,
In the bottom of the bottom of fourth, Tech pushed across their lone run of the game on a RBI single by
Caitlyn Wells.
Tymber Riley previously led off that inning with a double to left-center. A batter later, Riley got to third on a single through the left side by
Makenzie Goins. Now 60-feet away, Riley scored easily on Wells' single.
GAME TWO
Not long after the result of the Angelo State game, the Golden Suns had to turnaround and face another tough test in top-ranked UT-Tyler.
The Suns were more than up to the task and after surrendering a run in the top of the first bounced back in the bottom half and took a lead on a two-run shot to right-centerfield off the bat of Wells.
An inning later,
Holly Crutchfield hammered a solo homer to left to put Tech up 3-1.
In the top of the fourth, the unbeaten Patriots (5-0) rallied for three runs on four hits to swing the score in their favor.
Neither team scored over the next two innings, but UT-Tyler was able to push across an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Suns brought the potential game-winning run to the plate. After an out to start the inning, Shelby-Lynn Chavers beat out an infield single and then moved into scoring position after a walk to Riley.
With a chance to end the game with one swing of a bat, the Golden Suns unfortunately were on the downside of that result as a hard-hit grounder was hit right at the third base bag leading to a relatively easy 5-3 double play to end the game.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for another weekend of in-region action as they will travel to Bentonville to take part in the UAM Alvy Early Memorial Classic.
