RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - In the doubleheader to open their final regular season conference series of the 2022 season, the Arkansas Tech softball team splits the day with Southeastern leaving the series tied 1-1 heading into the final game of the weekend tomorrow. The Golden Suns move to 35-17 overall with a 25-7 record among Great American Conference opponents.
GAME ONE
The opening game of the weekend was a tough time for the bats of both teams as the pitching controlled the flow of the game. Starting in the circle for Arkansas Tech was
Shannon Lasey who opened up the top of the first walking two batters leaving runners on the corners, but she was able to compose herself and pick up three outs to escape the situation. Lasey recorded her first strikeout of the game in the first sending one down swinging.
The Savage Storm managed to collect two quick outs with the first two bats in the Golden Sun lineup, but
Caitlyn Wells tried to pick things up with a two out single to left field. The pitching from Southeastern would close out the bottom of the first inning however, leaving Wells stranded on first.
Lasey quickly erased her first inning mistakes taking command in the circle in the top of the second collecting three straight swinging strikeouts on the Savage Storm to retire the side.
Both pitchers kept the offense from both sides quiet as no runs would score through four full innings. Lasey manged to collect two more strikeouts in her time within the circle for the third and fourth innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Tech third baseman
Kassie Mayberry picked up the second and final hit of the game for the team with a two out single through the left side.
Southeastern would find the only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning as a leadoff triple to right field set up a runner at third in prime scoring position. A groundout to second base would bring across the Southeastern runner at third to take a 1-0 lead over the Golden Suns.
Following a two out walk by Lasey,
Kaila Cartwright would come in to replace her in the circle and would close out the game there. Cartwright managed to finish out the top of the fifth getting a flyout to centerfield.
The Golden Suns would try and get some offense going at the plate, but the Savage Storm pitching proved to be just a little stronger as they took game one 1-0.
GAME TWO
The final game of the doubleheader was another close battle, but the Golden Suns were determined to get the win and tie the weekend conference series up. Starting in the circle for the Golden Suns in game two was
Bailey Buffington who managed to collect a strikeout on her way to three outs to send the offense out for their first crack in game two.
Arkansas Tech decided to change the lineup up some as senior second baseman
Tymber Riley would be the leadoff hitter in game two. Riley wasted no time quickly crushing a double to left center field to open the Golden Sun attack with a bang. Riley would then find herself in prime attack position on third following a wild pitch.
Following Riley's at-bat, Wells hammered a double of her own to right center field to pick up an RBI as she brought across Riley to give the Golden Suns an early 1-0 lead over the Savage Storm. The Golden Suns would find themselves in a one out bases loaded situation, but Southeastern managed to escape the situation getting back-to-back strikeouts and leave all bases stranded as the game headed into the second inning.
Following the early one run punch by Arkansas Tech, the Savage Storm managed to respond opening the top of the second inning with a leadoff single. A groundout would push the runner to second. Southeastern found a pair of back-to-back singles to push across the lone run of the inning and tie the game at 1-1.
The Savage Storm would pick up another two hits in the top of the third inning, but Buffington quickly composed herself in the circle and got three outs and escaping any real damage. She also picked up two swinging strikeouts in the inning.
The game remained at a 1-1 stalemate through five full innings as both sides would find some baserunners, but would not be able to capitalize on any scoring opportunities.
After Buffington managed to record one out in the top of the sixth,
Shannon Lasey would come in to replace the sophomore in the circle to close out the game. Lasey quickly got to work recording two straight outs that included a swinging strikeouts to retire the Savage Storm and send the game into the bottom of the sixth.
The Golden Suns break the game open in the bottom of the sixth that started with a walk to shortstop
Brooke Prewitt. The Savage Storm then collected two straight outs to keep Prewitt on first as Riley headed to the plate. As she has done all season the senior second baseman delivered another clutch play down the stretch as she launched a long double to right field to score Prewitt and give the Golden Suns a 2-1 lead.
Lasey took charge and closed out the game in the circle in the seventh picking up two more strikeouts on the way to secure the 2-1 game two victory for the Golden Suns.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will play their final game of the regular season tomorrow as they try and go for the series win against Southeastern on senior day. First pitch for game three is set for 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
Â
