BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Following their wins over Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Nazarene in the quarter and semifinals of the Great American Conference Tournament, the Arkansas Tech softball team closes out the tournament strong with a statement 7-4 win over the No. 2 seeded Southern Arkansas Muleriders to claim their fourth consecutive GAC Tournament championship.
Following the conclusion of the game four members of the Golden Suns were named to the GAC All-Tournament team for their performance during their championship run. Second baseman
Tymber Riley, centerfielder
Shelby Chavers, third baseman
Kassie Mayberry and pitcher
Shannon Lasey all got the nods for Arkansas Tech. Lasey was not only selected to the All-Tournament team, but was also named the GAC Tournament MVP for her practically flawless performance.
Starting in the circle for the Golden Suns in the finals was
Bailey Buffington. Neither team was able to push across a run in the first inning leaving it at 0-0 heading into the second inning of action. The Muleriders would strike the board first in the bottom of the second that started with a lead off single, followed by a double to left center field to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Another single would bring in the first run of the game for Southern Arkansas as they took a 1-0 lead. Buffington composed herself within the circle and was able to get the final two outs with only one run of damage done as she left two stranded on second and third.
In the top of the third inning, Riley would put a single in play to center field to reach first base and would advance to second on a passed ball. The Southern Arkansas defense managed to stay calm and collect the outs needed to end the inning without the Golden Suns striking home plate.
The bottom of the frame did not start well for Arkansas Tech as SAU smacked a leadoff homer to take a 2-0 lead. Later, a single to left center field by the Muleriders set up a double to left field to bring across the second run of the inning as they found themselves with a 3-0 lead over the Golden Suns after three innings.
Down 0-3 heading into the fourth, the Golden Suns were determined to get something going and cut into the SAU lead. A leadoff walk to
Sydney Keaton set up a single through the right side for Mayberry to put two runners on base. A groundout to the SAU shortstop advanced both Mayberry and Keaton ahead one base. Arkansas Tech would strike the board with their first run of the night off a sacrifice fly to right field by shortstop
Brooke Prewitt that brought in Keaton to give Prewitt the RBI. With two outs and Mayberry on third, Golden Sun catcher
Jessica Williams stepped up to the plate to deliver a big time double to left field to bring in Mayberry and make it a 3-2 game heading into the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning,
Kaila Cartwright came in to replace Buffington in the circle.
Southern Arkansas would stop Arkansas Tech from another offensive onslaught in the top of the fifth as they decided to change their approach in the circle with a pitching change themselves. In the bottom of the frame, the Muleriders would find another run off a wild pitch that allowed a runner at third to come across home plate to take a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning of action.
Though they were down 2-4 in the top of the sixth inning, the Golden Suns would show why they had won three consecutive GAC Tournament championships and why they were about to win their fourth with an offensive slugfest.
Keaton opened things up reaching first base on a muffed throw by the Southern Arkansas first baseman and Mayberry would advance Keaton to second but would make it to first following a fielders choice to the SAU shortstop to put two on with no outs. A no out single to third base from Chavers put the Golden Suns in incredible position with the bases now loaded as Prewitt headed to the plate.
Prewitt would pick up her second sac fly of the night to right center field scoring Keaton to grab her second RBI in the game. Williams followed suit with a sac bunt to the SAU pitcher that put Chavers at second and brought across Mayberry to tie the game up at 4-4 with two outs.
The Golden Suns were nowhere near done dealing damage yet though as
Holly Crutchfield came into pinch hit for
Adrianna Cooney and delivered a game breaking single that allowed Chavers to cross home plate and give them their first lead of the inning. Following the single by Crutchfield, Riley crushed a double down the left field line to score Crutchfield and give Tech an important 6-4 lead. The final run of the night would come from senior first baseman
Makenzie Goins who singled up the middle to score Riley and give her team the 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
During the top of the sixth inning, the Golden Suns scored five total runs to take the lead.
Shannon Lasey would replace Cartwright in the circle to start the bottom of the sixth for Arkansas Tech. The ace pitcher for the Golden Suns would cap off her incredible run in the GAC Tournament and silence the Southern Arkansas bats once and for all in the sixth and seventh innings to give her team the 7-4 victory and their fourth consecutive Great American Conference Tournament Championship.
Cartwright picks up the win in this one to hold a perfect 3-0 record on the year. Lasey did her part as well with an elite closing performance and records her third save on the season.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns aren't done with the 2022 season yet as they get ready to compete in the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. As of now, the matchup is not set but it will be tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. during the NCAA Selection Show where the Golden Suns will find out who they will face in the opening round of the tournament.
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