ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Following their win in game one yesterday over Ouachita Baptist on the road, the Arkansas Tech softball team put together another two wins on the day to sweep the Tigers on their own home field for the weekend. Following their series sweep, the Golden Suns sit at 24-14 overall with a 14-6 record among Great American Conference opponents. Looking at the conference standings following this weeks action, Arkansas Tech remains tied with Harding for second in the GAC.

GAME ONE
The Golden Suns got rolling early in the opening game of the afternoon putting up four runs in the first inning of play. Following a walk for Tymber Riley, Caitlyn Wells delivered a solid single to the Ouachita second baseman to get on base and put Riley in scoring position on second.

Golden Sun third baseman Kassie Mayberry drove in the first run of the day with a single to center field. A throwing error by the Tiger shortstop allowed Wells to reach third and Mayberry to advance ahead to second putting both in prime scoring position as Makenzie Goins stepped up to the plate.

Goins took advantage of the runners on for the Golden Suns as she blasted a three run bomb over the right center wall to mount the early pressure on Ouachita with a 4-0 lead at the end of the opening inning of action.

Getting the start in the circle for Arkansas Tech was Bailey Buffington who managed to go four full innings in her outing. The sophomore went to work in the bottom of the first as she retired three of her first four batters.

Following the first inning flurry by the Golden Suns offense, the Tigers opted to change their approach in the circle as starter Nikki Schneider was pulled after just 0.2 innings pitched and Tuesday Melton took over and would finish the job for the Tigers going the rest of the 6.2 innings. The change quickly made a difference as Melton closed out the top of the second collecting two swinging strikeouts.

Buffington threw for a solid second as well quickly sending the Tech offense back out following a three up three down inning.

The Golden Suns managed to pick up a double by Brooke Prewitt late in the third inning, but the final blow of the game would come from Mayberry with a solo homer to left field to bump up to a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers would find their only run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third as a single from Jillian Jones and a double from Tallie Turnbow set up the scoring hit from Heather Brown on a single to right field to bring in Jones for the run at home plate. Despite the effort, the Golden Suns would hold Ouachita to that single run and take game one 5-1.

Replacing Buffington in the circle in the top of the fifth inning was Kaila Cartwright who put together another strong relief appearance for the Golden Suns collecting four strikeouts with no runs or hits and walking only one. The win would go to Buffington who moves to 8-5 on the season.

GAME TWO
In the second game of the afternoon, the Golden Suns would strike the board first scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second. Following a walk for Goins, Prewitt busted a long ball over the left field wall to put Arkansas Tech in front 2-0 early over the Tigers.

In the circle for game two for the Golden Suns was Shannon Lasey who went five full innings in the outing following her complete seven inning performance in game one. The sophomore went to work in the bottom of the second recording two swinging strikeouts for the final pair of outs in the inning to retire the side.

Both starting pitchers went to work in the next two innings holding the other to no runs. Lasey put on a show in that time picking up six straight outs for the Golden Suns.

The Tigers broke the scoring stalemate in the bottom of the fifth inning as Lauren Lester and Lacy Ornelas delivered a pair of singles to set up the single from Jessalyn Ahrens that brought in Lester to score the first run of the game for Ouachita.

The Golden Suns put up a big time offensive performance in the top of the sixth that started with a crushed double to center field for Shelby Chavers to put herself in prime scoring position. Following a strikeout, Wells connected and drove the ball to the Ouachita third baseman who committed a throwing error allowing Wells to reach second and Chavers to pick up the unearned run. Kacie Gibbins took over for Wells at second as the pinch runner following the play. 

Following a walk for Mayberry, Goins picked up a single through the right side and would advance to second on the throw, putting Mayberry on third and driving in Gibbins for the unearned run. A good sacrifice bunt from Prewitt would allow Mayberry to reach home and a single up the middle for Sydney Keaton would score Goins for the fourth and final run of the inning as the Golden Suns took a comfortable 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Cartwright took over for Lasey in the circle to start the bottom of the sixth and would close out the remaining 2.0 innings.

The Golden Suns found one more scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh that started with a single from Adrianna Cooney and a hit by pitch to Chavers to put two on. Wells would once again find herself on first following a throwing error by the Ouachita shortstop to load the bases for Tech. The final run of the day for the Golden Suns would come off a walk to Goins that forced Cooney home to take a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Ouachita opened their final chance with a double from Turnbow and a single from Ornelas to put both runners in scoring position. Ahrens would reach first off a fielders choice with the Tech defense opting to get Ornelas out at second, but Turnbow would run in to score for Ouachita. Cartwright managed to finish the inning and give the Golden Suns a 7-2 win in the second game of the day to earn the 3-0 weekend road series sweep.

Lasey picked up the win in this one as she moves to 9-5 inside the circle for the Golden Suns.

UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will travel to Searcy on Tuesday for an important mid-week single game matchup against Harding. The Golden Suns have already claimed victory in the season series against Harding as they swept the Bison in a home mid-week doubleheader back on March 9. The matchup will also determine who controls the No. 2 spot in the conference as both teams are currently tied for the spot in the standings. First pitch for Tuesday's game is set for 4 p.m. that afternoon.



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