RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their mid-week doubleheader on the road at No. 15 Oklahoma Christian earlier this week, the Arkansas Tech softball team bounces back with a 9-6 win at home over Northwestern Oklahoma State and take a 1-0 lead on the three-game weekend series.
The Golden Suns quickly opened up on the attack as senior second baseman
Tymber Riley crushed her first triple of the season to right field to bring in
Shelby Chavers who was on first following a hit-by-pitch, which gave the Golden Suns the early 1-0 lead. Riley would make her way across home plate following a groundout to the NWOSU shortstop to give Tech the 2-0 lead after the opening inning of play.
In the top of the second, the Rangers tried to strike back with back-to-back singles to open up the inning. However, Tech starting pitcher
Shannon Lasey delivered in the circle collecting three straight outs, with two being swinging strikeouts, to retire the side and escape the high pressure situation.
Arkansas Tech added another run on the board in the bottom of the frame that started with a single through the left side for left fielder
Sydney Keaton, who then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Catcher
Jessica Williams would advance Keaton to third with a groundout to second base and
Holly Crutchfield would drive her in with a single to the pitcher to score the lone run of the second inning with the Golden Suns up 3-0.
Following the early punches thrown by the Golden Suns, the Rangers would find their response in the third inning as a leadoff walk and an error by Tech got the scoring runs on base. A wild pitch would score the first run for NWOSU, while a sacrifice fly would score the second to close the gap with Tech still ahead 3-2.
During the top of the fourth,
Kaila Cartwright would take over for Lasey inside the circle following a leadoff single. Carwright managed to collect her first out catching a ground ball right to her, as she then swung it back behind her to second force out the runner and with the batter reaching first on a fielders choice. The junior pitcher managed to collect her final outs putting a groundball in play that resulted in a beautiful 3-6 double play.
A leadoff walk for Williams started things for the Tech offense in the bottom of the fourth. Crutchfield would find herself on first by way of a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a fielders choice as the Rangers third baseman decided to spike the ball instead of throwing it over to first for the out. The sac bunt advanced Williams to second and the throwing error by the Ranger third baseman would give her another base as she now found herself on third with Crutchfield on first. A wild pitch would advance Crutchfield to second as both runners now sat in good shape in scoring position with no outs.
Following the wild pitch that put Crutchfield on second,
Tymber Riley stepped up to the plate and busted an absolute three-run missile over the centerfield wall to give the Golden Suns a comfortable 6-2 lead heading into the fifth inning of action.
The Rangers would climb back in the game however in the top of the fifth that begin with a single to left field that scored two runners to bring it a 6-4 game. A double by Northwestern Oklahoma State would drive in another pair of runs as the game suddenly found itself tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Following the double,
Bailey Buffington would take over for Cartwright in the circle and would close out the game there.
The Golden Suns found their answer in the bottom of the sixth inning. A hit-by-pitch for Riley and a single to left field for Caityln Wells would put two runners on for Arkansas Tech. With two outs
Makenzie Goins approached the plate to deliver the dagger as she crushed a three-run bomb over the left field wall to give the Golden Suns the 9-6 lead that resulted in their game one win over Northwestern Oklahoma State.Â
Buffington closed out the game in the circle in the top of the seventh to pick up the win. She moves to 11-6 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will look to take the series win tomorrow as they close out the weekend with a doubleheader against the Rangers. First pitch is slated for noon at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
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