EDMOND, Okla. - A strong defensive effort in the opening round of the NCAA DII Central Region Tournament not enough as the Arkansas Tech softball team drops the 0-1 loss against the No. 9 team in the country, Augustana.

Starting in the circle for the Golden Suns was 2022 Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year, Shannon Lasey. She quickly got things going in the circle in the bottom of the first inning recording two groundouts. The third batter in the lineup for the Vikings made the difference in the game as a two out homerun shot to deep left field gave them the early 1-0 lead over the Golden Suns, and it would be the only run of the game scored by both sides.

Lasey walked her next two batters putting two on in the bottom of the first, still with two outs. The sophomore pitcher composed herself and collected a swinging strikeout to escape the bottom of the first without any added damage.

In the top of the second inning, Tech third baseman Kassie Mayberry would be the first player to reach base with a walk. Shelby Chavers managed to make it to first off a throwing error by the Viking first baseman trying to get the force out at second on Mayberry. Shortstop Brooke Prewitt would reach first on a fielders choice as the Augustana defense decided to get Mayberry out at third base. The Golden Suns still had runners at first and second with two outs, but the Vikings would record the final out to leave two stranded.

Continuing to control the game in the circle, Lasey held the elite offense of Augustana to no runs through three full innings of play. First baseman Makenzie Goins led off the top of the fourth inning with the lone hit of the game for the Golden Suns with a single to centerfield. The Vikings defense would hold strong however collecting three straight outs following the single by Goins. In the bottom of the frame, Lasey once again stuck it the high powered Vikings offense collecting another strikeout and not allowing any runs to come across.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lasey closed out her day in the circle collecting three straight outs to send the game into the sixth inning still allowing only one run to come across for Augustana who averages 8 runs a game. Augustana's lowest average at the plate in their starting lineup is .333 and Lasey did a phenomenal job at shutting down their deadly bats. The sophomore pitching ace finished her day allowing four total hits with only one run, while striking out three in 5.0 innings of action. 

Replacing Lasey in the circle to start the top of the sixth inning was Kaila Cartwright who closed out the game there for the Golden Suns. Cartwright did her job to the letter in the bottom of the sixth logging three straight outs, that included a swinging strikeout.

Arkansas Tech would try and rally in the top of the seventh, but Augustana would hold them to end the game and take the 1-0 win over the Golden Suns.

UP NEXT
The Golden Suns aren't quite done yet as they will face Great American Conference rival Southern Arkansas in an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in Edmond.

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