WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Following their doubleheader sweep on the road against Southwestern Oklahoma State yesterday afternoon, the Arkansas Tech softball team delivers another impressive win to sweep the Bulldogs 3-0 in the series. With the win, the Golden Suns have won eleven straight games and have eight consecutive conference series wins. On the season, the team moves to 31-14 overall with a 21-6 record against Great American Conference opponents.
Southwestern Oklahoma State wasted no time opening up with a one out single to put one on in the bottom of the first. The runner on first would steal second and would make it home for the unearned run following a throwing error by Arkansas Tech to make it an early 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs.
Following the first inning, the Golden Suns struck back to get themselves on the board as
Makenzie Goins crushed a leadoff homer over the centerfield wall to tie the game at one all. Following the at-bat by Goins, Tech shortstop
Brooke Prewitt busted a double to centerfield to put herself in scoring position on second. Prewitt had an excellent day at the plate going a perfect three-for-three in her at-bats.
Following the back-to-back hits for Arkansas Tech, Southwestern Oklahoma decided to make a change in the circle pulling their starter early after just 1.0 innings pitched.
Still in the top of the second with Prewitt on second,
Sydney Keaton successfully hit a sacrifice bunt to get Prewitt in prime attack position at third base. Another great bunt from
Jessica Williams drove in Prewitt to home for the run as the Golden Suns exited the second inning holding a 2-1 lead over the Bulldogs.
The Arkansas Tech defense held strong in the third not allowing any runs to come across for Southwestern Oklahoma to bring out the bats once again. A solid single to centerfield for
Kassie Mayberry put her at first and would advance to second on a groundout. Bringing across Mayberry would be Prewitt with her second hit of the day, a single through the right side to attach an RBI to the shortstop.
Both sides remained quiet offensively through most of the remainder of the game. The defensive effort from each team was strong as they tried to hold the other from scoring which they were successful at doing as the game stood at a 3-1 stalemate heading into the seventh and final inning of play.
It would be the Golden Suns who would break the game wide open and shut the door of hope for the Bulldogs of a comeback.
Shelby Chavers got things rolling for Arkansas Tech with a leadoff single to left field. Two at-bats later and
Caitlyn Wells bounced a single over to right field to put two on base with Chavers in scoring position at second.
Following the single by Wells, the Bulldogs made some changes in the field and in the circle going to their third pitcher of the afternoon. It did not go as planned as the new pitcher would walk the first two batters she faced loading the bases on the first and giving Tech another run with the second as Keaton approached the plate for the play of the game.
Keaton smacked a game breaking double down the right field line to pick up three RBI's as she cleared the runners off bases with an absolutely incredible play for the sophomore left fielder and leaving no doubt as to who would win the game giving the Golden Suns the 7-1 win and the 3-0 series sweep over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Starting in the circle for the Golden Suns was
Shannon Lasey who continued her elite performances of late with another complete game going the distance for a full 7.0 innings of work and picking up the win to move to 14-5 on the year. Across her time within the circle today, the sophomore allowed just two hits and one unearned run with eight total strikeouts while walking no batters.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns hit the road one final time in the regular season as they travel to Oklahoma City, Okla. to face Oklahoma Christian in a non-conference mid-week doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.
