RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their hard fought win in the opening game of the weekend yesterday against Oklahoma Baptist, the Arkansas Tech softball team splits the Saturday afternoon doubleheader with them falling just short in the second game, but still emerge with the solid 2-1 series win. The Golden Suns currently sit at 20-13 overall with an 11-6 record among Great American Conference opponents.
GAME ONE
The first game of the day was another defensive focused game as both sides produced solid pitching performances. Starting in the circle in game one for the Golden Suns was
Bailey Buffington who went the distance to pitch a complete seven inning game. In the top of the first, Buffington struckout the leadoff batter, picked up a groundout which she swung over to first base for the second out and put the third out in play once again to go three up three down to start her outing.
The Golden Suns managed to pick up an early hit as
Tymber Riley singled to the Bison shortstop in the bottom of the first to record the first hit of the day. Riley would advance to second off a single from Mayberry to put two Tech runners on base with one out. The Bison defense would hold them there however leaving two runners stranded heading into the bottom of the second inning.
Both sides continued to hold the others offense scoreless through the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the third inning, Chavers would leadoff getting hit by the pitch to take her spot at first bringing Riley back up to the plate. The second baseman delivered her second single of the game up the middle to put two runners on. Mayberry picked up a successful sacrifice bunt to first base to advance Riley to second and Chavers to third putting both in scoring position. Oklahoma Baptist would again hold strong managing to escape the inning with no runs for Arkansas Tech.
The Bison picked up their one and only hit of the game in the top of the fourth inning with a double to right field, but would not be able to capitalize on the opportunity remaining scoreless. In the bottom of the frame, the Golden Suns would pick up a single from
Savannah Snow through the left side.
In the top of the fifth, Buffington again had strong production inside the circle walking one, but putting the other three outs in play to finish her fifth inning of the day.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, neither side had managed to put themselves on the board yet as the game remained scoreless.
Abigail Lochala led off the bottom of the sixth pinch hitting for
Kaylyn Aguirre and would get on base after being hit by the pitch. Aguirre would take her spot on first base as a pinch runner. With one on and one outÂ
Adrianna Cooney delivered a clutch double to left field sending Aguirre to third to put both in scoring position. Riley delivered the finishing blow with her third hit of the game crushing a double to left field picking up two RBI's as both Aguirre and Cooney scored to give the Golden Suns their 2-0 first game win and the guaranteed series victory over Oklahoma Baptist.
Closing the game out in the circle was Buffington as she recorded the final three outs to grab her complete seven inning game. Buffington picks up the win for the Golden Suns and moves to 7-4 on the season.
GAME TWO
The final game of the doubleheader was once again a grind as both sides found it hard to turn in any runs.
Starting in the circle for Arkansas Tech was
Shannon Lasey who pitched a flawless first three innings. In the top of the first inning, she struckout one swinging and put the other two outs in play to send out the Golden Sun bats. Tech managed to get two runners on base with a hit by pitch and walk, but couldn't find a way to drive those runs in as they headed into the second inning.
Once again Lasey produced a good outing in the top of the second sending two Bison batters back to their dugout on swinging strikes and collecting the final out in play to go three up three down. The Bison committed their only error of the game in the bottom of the second inning as
Sydney Keaton would make it to first off an error by the Oklahoma Baptist second baseman.
Lasey's best performance of the day in the circle came in the top of the third inning as she went three up three down once again, this time sending the Bison batters packing on three swinging strikeouts to collect her six total strikeouts in the game. In the bottom of the frame, Chavers managed to hit a lead off single to left field, but would be caught stealing for the first out. The Golden Suns would find three more on base with two walks and a fielder's choice following a putout at second but couldn't quite get those runs across heading into the top of the fourth inning.
Oklahoma Baptist would finally get their offense going with a single and would steal second base. The runner at second would advance to third following a passed ball. The game winning shot for the Bison came off a two run homer to left field to give them their first runs of the weekend with a 2-0 lead. Oklahoma Baptist managed to hit a double following the homerun. Following the double,
Kaila Cartwright took over for Lasey inside the circle and would collect the final two outs in the top of the fourth.
The Golden Suns would put pressure on the Bison defense in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring their first run of the game off a single through the right side by
Brooke Prewitt to score Keaton and make it just a one point game down 2-1.
The Golden Suns would have their final stand on offense in the bottom of the seventh inning still down 2-1. The Golden Suns would find themselves in a good spot as the bases loaded following two singles from Cooney and Mayberry and a walk for Riley with just one out on the board. Oklahoma Baptist managed to withstand the pressure and collect the final two outs to take the 2-1 win to split the doubleheader.
Cartwright managed to have a great relief appearance closing out the game in the circle for Arkansas Tech. Cartwright finished the game allowing no runs to score for Oklahoma Baptist and would strikeout three in 3.2 innings of work.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will stay at home for their next outing as they take on Rogers State on Tuesday afternoon in a mid-week non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. that afternoon at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
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