BENTONVILLE, Ark. - After picking up a solid 6-0 shutout win over Arkansas-Monticello in the opening round of the GAC Tournament, the Arkansas Tech softball team manages to come out on top in a grueling eight inning semifinal game over Southern Nazarene thanks to a big time homerun from the 2022 GAC Player of the Year and All-GAC First Team member,
Tymber Riley in the top of the eighth inning.
Holding the entire game together for the Golden Suns was the 2022 GAC Pitcher of the Year and All-GAC First Team member
Shannon Lasey who put together an absolutely unmatched, dominate and complete performance in the circle against the Crimson Storm.Â
The game between both the Golden Suns and the Crimson storm was an intense battle between the pitchers, with neither one refusing to give an inch and let the other team sniff out a run. The first two full innings of play saw each pitcher retire the first three batters due up in the order to start the game and assert their strength early.
The pitchers continued to control the game through four full innings of play, but in the top of the fifth inning, the Golden Suns would be the first team to finally come up with a hit as third baseman
Kassie Mayberry busted a double through the right side. Tech would not be able to make anything count with the double though as the game headed into the bottom of the fifth.
Southern Nazarene found their first pair of hits in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back singles to put two on base with one out. A groundout to second base would send both runners ahead one spot to put both in scoring position with two outs as pressure mounted on Lasey. Just like always, Lasey was unfazed by the dangerous situation and composed herself perfectly to collect the final out of the inning with no damage done as the game headed into the sixth inning still tied at 0-0.
The Golden Suns would pick up a single in the top of the sixth but would not be able to make anything happen of it. The Crimson Storm once again found themselves in a favorable spot as a single and a fielders choice set up two runners on base with no outs. A sacrifice bunt would advance both to scoring position, putting Lasey back in the same situation as the last inning with just one out. Once again, Lasey proved why she was the GAC Pitcher of the Year taking complete command in the circle sending the next hitter back swinging and getting a popup to second base for the final out to escape with no damage heading into the seventh inning of action.
Tech's bats would not be able to drive in a run sending the game into the bottom of the seventh inning as they looked to stop the Crimson Storm once again and send the game into extra innings. Lasey quickly picked up a groundout to retire her first batter, but a routine popup to Riley at second that she missed allowed a runner to reach first on the error and a hit by pitch on the next would put two on with one out.
The Golden Sun defense quickly collected themselves and made a beautiful double play as a grounder rolled to Mayberry at third who quickly stepped on the bag to force the runner coming from second out, then flipped it over to
Makenzie Goins at first base to get the batter out and escape the bottom of the frame as it headed into extra innings.
The top of the eighth inning would see Tech shut the door on the Crimson Storm and get the win. Not holding back anything, Riley quickly crushed an absolutely clutch leadoff homerun to shatter the game wide open for the Golden Suns and give them a 1-0 lead for the first run of the game. Riley now leads the GAC in total homeruns this season with 16 and is just two away from tying the all time career homerun record for the Golden Suns. The strong hitting continued as
Caitlyn Wells singled up the middle to put one on first with no outs.
Kacie Gibbins would come in for Wells at first as a pinch runner.
Goins reached first on a throwing error by the Crimson Storm pitcher which pushed Gibbins to second. A sacrifice bunt from
Sydney Keaton would put both runners in scoring position at second and third. Mayberry would bring across the final run of the game with an RBI single to left field that allowed Gibbins to storm home plate and tack on one last run to extend the Tech lead to 2-0 heading into the bottom of the frame.
Lasey took command in the circle and closed out the game for the Golden Suns. She got right to work collecting two groundouts to leave just one out left to send her team to the finals. The next two hitters managed to hit a pair of singles past Lasey putting two on, but she was again unfazed by her situation. The sophomore got the final out on a flyout to centerfield to finish off the Crimson Storm and cap off her elite performance in the circle.
The win goes to Lasey as she moves to 18-7 overall on the year. Lasey allowed only five hits, with no runs or walks, and struck out four in her complete eight inning game. The Dover, Ark. native has been incredible during the tournament run for the Golden Suns pitching two complete games that total 15 innings and has not allowed a single run to cross the plate.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns have made the finals and will play for the GAC Tournament Championship at 6:00 p.m. tonight. Tech will face the winner of Harding and SAU in the championship matchup.
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