RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Following their opening weekend at the UT-Tyler Winter Classic where the team went 3-3 overall and picked up a solid 7-3 win over No. 18 Angelo State, the Arkansas Tech softball team sets their sights for Bentonville, Ark. as they get ready to compete in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. 

The event is set to begin on Saturday for the Golden Suns and will end on Sunday afternoon. In their first pair of games on Saturday, the Golden Suns will face Drury (RV) and Central Missouri with first pitch times set for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Then on Sunday, Tech will take on No. 22 Washburn and then close out their weekend slate against Missouri Western State. The game against Washburn is set to go at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, while the final game of the weekend against Missouri Western State is set for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch that same afternoon. 

Currently leading the hitters for the Golden Suns is Brooke Prewitt who opened up her season with a solid outing last weekend at the UT-Tyler Winter Classic. Prewitt is currently hitting .471 at the plate, which leads the team. In her outing last weekend, Prewitt scored four runs, recorded three doubles, three triples and three RBI's across eight total hits between all six games. 

Heading up the pitching staff for Arkansas Tech is Bailey Buffington who earned the GAC Co-Pitcher of the Week nod for her outstanding performance in the Golden Suns opening slate of games last weekend at the UT-Tyler Winter Classic. Buffington currently sits at 0.00 ERA in 21.2 innings of work with 11 total strikeouts. Opposing bats struggled to hit off Buffington's stuff in the circle holding them to just a .160 average at the plate. 

Scouting the Panthers
Last season, Drury finished 37-17 overall with a 21-7 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. So far this season, the Panthers 2-3 and have collected wins against Union (Tenn.) and Delta State. Drury was picked to finish second overall in the GLVC preseason coaches poll and are currently receiving votes in the NFCA national polls. 

Currently leading the Panthers offense is Gracie Thomas who is averaging .455 at the plate in 11 at-bats on the year. Thomas is currently leading the team in RBI's with three on five total hits.

Leading the pitching staff is Lauren Beier who has a 0.50 ERA in 14.0 total innings pitched and has struckout seven total batters. Opponents are hitting .214 against Beier when she is in the circle. 

Scouting the Jennies
In the 2022 season, Central Missouri went 17-36 overall with an 8-18 record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. This weekend will mark the first batch of games for the Jennies with Arkansas Tech being their second game of the season on Saturday. In the MIAA preseason coaches poll, Central Missouri was picked to finish sixth overall. 

At the plate, Aubrie McRoberts led the team in batting average hitting .345 in 142 total at-bats last season. She collected a team-high 49 hits with four doubles and 10 RBI's for the Jennies. 

In the circle, Kyleigh Lay led the team with a 3.82 ERA in 122.2 innings pitched and struckout a team-high 143 batters at the plate. Opposing bats averaged .228 against Lay when she was in the circle. 

Scouting the Ichabods 
Last season, Washburn finished their year with a 45-15 overall record and went 24-2 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. This season, the Icahbods are currently 4-1 and have picked up wins against Lubbock Christian, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Eastern New Mexico and Southwestern Oklahoma State. Washburn is currently No. 22 overall in the country according to the NFCA preseason poll. In the MIAA preseason coaches poll, Washburn was tabbed to finish second. 

Leading the Ichabod bats so far this season is Marrit Mead who is currently averaging .400 at the plate in 20 at-bats. She has collected eight total hits, three doubles, four RBI's and scored seven runs for Washburn. 

Leading the pitchers for Washburn is Jaycee Ginter who currently sits at a 0.61 ERA in 23.0 innings of work with a team-high 33 strikeouts. When Ginter is in the circle, she is holding opposing bats to a low .165 average at the plate so far this season. 

Scouting the Griffons
In the 2022 season, Missouri Western State went 30-22 overall with a 17-9 record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. So far this season, the Griffon's are 1-3 overall and have collected their only win against Lewis. In the MIAA preseason coaches poll, the Griffons were predicted to finish fourth overall in the conference. 

In their four games played so far, Sydni Hawkins leads the bats for the Griffons averaging .563 at the plate in 16 total at-bats. Hawkins has recorded nine total hits with three RBI's to her name on the year. 

In the circle, Harley Pruetting leads the Griffons with a 0.00 ERA in 10.1 innings of work with 14 total strikeouts. Pruetting is holding opposing bats to a low .121 average. Same Penderson has also been a force for the Griffons in two starts with a team-high 19 strikeouts in 11.1 total innings pitched.