BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech softball team begins their weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic with a 6-0 shutout win against Drury that saw the first combined no-hitter in program history and a 5-1 win over Central Missouri to sweep the day.
GAME ONE
The Golden Suns took care of business in their opening game of the day against Drury picking up a shutout win over the Panthers. Making the start in the circle against Drury was Bailey Buffington.
In the top of the first, Buffington got right to work settling in the circle collecting three straight outs to open up the game strong. In the bottom of the frame, Shelby Chavers was dealt a leadoff walk then managed to steal second base to put herself in scoring position. A sacrifice flyout by Brooke Prewitt would advance Chavers to third and a sac fly from Makenzie Goins would bring in Chavers for the first run of the game for the Golden Suns.
Once again, Buffington delivered her stuff in the second and third innings of the game retiring three straight Drury batters in both innings. The Golden Suns would find their next pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning that began with a single to third base by Kaylyn Aguirre, who then stole second to put herself in scoring position for Arkansas Tech. Aguirre would advance once again after a wild pitch was thrown by the Panther pitcher with Prewitt at the plate ready to strike. Prewitt would send out a homerun over the left field wall to tack on two more runs for the Golden Suns as they led 3-0 after three innings of action.Â
To start the bottom of the fourth inning for the Golden Sun bats, Makenzie Addis would power a double out to center field to strike the bases early in the frame. Addis would advance to third after a ground out to the Drury second baseman by Sydney Keaton. Delivering the run home would be Bradi Basler with a single up the middle to keep the Golden Suns on top 4-0 heading into the fifth inning.
Both teams would remain quiet offensively in the fifth inning, with Buffington still putting in work in the circle for the Golden Suns. In the top of the sixth inning, Kaila Cartwright would replace Buffington in the circle and collect three straight ground outs to finish off the combined no-hitter for Arkansas Tech.Â
The Golden Suns would record their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as a double to left field by Savannah Snow scored Keaton, while a single through the left side by Lexi Gorniak would bring home Arissa Harrish for the final run of the game.Â
Following the game, Buffington collects the win and moves to 3-1 on the year. The current reigning GAC Pitcher of the Week put together another great performance in the circle for the Golden Suns allowing no Drury bats to collect a hit, while striking out three in 5.0 total innings of work. Cartwright finished off the combined no-hitter with a solid relief outing with no hits allowed while striking out one in 2.0 total innings pitched. Â
GAME TWO
In their second and final bout of the day, the Golden Suns picked up a 5-1 win over Central Missouri. Making the start in the circle for the Golden Suns was Basler.
The Jennies would strike the board first with a solo homerun in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead over the Golden Suns. The Golden Suns would quickly collect themselves however as Basler would not allow Central Missouri to put another run on the board for the reminder of the game.Â
The Golden Suns got their first chance to strike back in the bottom of the third inning as Goins sent out a solo shot over the left field wall on a two out situation to get her team on the board and tie the game at one run a piece heading into the fourth inning.Â
Basler would continue to control the Jennie bats in the circle holding them hitless in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the frame in another two out situation, Jessica Williams bashed another homer over the left field wall to give the Golden Suns the 2-1 lead with the big time play.Â
Central Missouri would connect a single up the middle in the top of the fifth, but Basler would compose herself and retire the next batter swinging to continue to control the game in the circle for the Golden Suns.Â
Still up 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Golden Suns looked to break the game open and create space on the scoreboard. Goins would open the inning at the plate for Tech with a monster double to left field and would then advance to third on a wild pitch. Addis would account for the next two runs with the third homerun of the game for the Golden Suns scoring both herself and Goins to extend the lead out to 4-2.
The final run of the game would be scored on account of back-to-back errors by the Jennies as Williams would reach base after the Jennie first baseman muffed the throw, which allowed Harrish, who was on first, to advance all the way to third on the error. Then on the next at-bat, Gorniak would pinch run for Williams and would steal second, then advance to third after a throwing error by the Central Missouri catcher which would send Gorniak home for the final run of the afternoon.Â
Basler would wrap up the game in the circle with a flawless final inning retiring three straight batters to give Arkansas Tech the 5-1 win over Central Missouri.
Following the win, Basler moves to 2-1 on the season. She logged a complete seven inning game in the circle allowing only a single run, while striking out four.Â
The Golden Suns will close out their weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic tomorrow with another pair of games. The first game of tomorrow's slate will be against No. 22 Washburn with first pitch set for 11 a.m., while game two will be against Missouri Western State and is set for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch tomorrow afternoon in Bentonville.
