RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their split doubleheader to open the three-game series against Southern Arkansas, the Arkansas Tech softball team picks up the 4-2 win in the finale to win the series two games to one. Following the win, the Golden Suns move to 12-10 overall and sit at an even 3-3 record among Great American Conference opponents.
Starting things off in the bottom of the first inning, the Golden Sun offense got right to work as
Shelby Chavers crushed a leadoff double to set the tone.
Tymber Riley found her way to first base off a fielding error by the Mulerider shortstop. Both Chavers and Riley would advance another base due to a wild pitch. Another wild pitch from Southern Arkansas put Riley on third and brought in Chavers for the first run of the game for the Golden Suns.
Arkansas Tech still held a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as
Makenzie Goins headed to the plate following the second wild pitch and would walk from being pelted by the pitch to take her base.
Caitlyn Wells grounded into a double play at shortstop as the Muleriders managed to pick up the outs at second and first, but Riley would book it home from third base to give the Golden Suns a 2-0 lead.
The next flurry of runs for the Golden Suns came one inning later in the bottom of the second.
Kaylyn Aguirre started things off in the bottom of the frame with a single through the left side. Following a pop up out to the pitcher by
Brooke Prewitt,
Savannah Snow picked up the third hit of the game for Tech sending a double out to left center field putting two runners in scoring position as Aguirre reached third on the hit which brought up
Kassie Mayberry to the plate.
Mayberry managed to single up the right side with a bunt scoring Aguirre at home with Snow turning the corner at third heading home as well, but would be thrown out by the SAU second baseman. Mayberry advanced to second on the throw as Chavers headed back up to hit.
The Mulerider pitcher would hit Chavers and Riley walking back-to-back batters and giving the Golden Suns a bases loaded opportunity. SAU would walk a third straight batter in Goins forcing Mayberry home and giving the Golden Suns a 4-0 lead to close out the scoring.
Southern Arkansas would find their only two runs of the game in the top of the third inning. A two run homerun over the left field wall following a single would be the action that gave the Muleriders their only two runs of the day.
Following the two run inning for Southern Arkansas in the top of the third, neither side would put up another run as the Golden Suns would walk away with the 4-2 win.
Starting in the circle and picking up the win for Arkansas Tech was
Maddy Prough who moves to 4-3 on the season following her two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work against Southern Arkansas.
Relieving Prough in the top of the sixth inning and picking up her first save of the season was
Kaila Cartwright. Cartwright managed to strikeout three hitters, while only allowing a single hit in her 2.0 innings of action.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for another tough conference battle as the Harding Bisons come to town for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 8. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Chartwells.
