BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech softball team splits their final pair of games on the weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic picking up a walk-off 1-0 win over No. 22 Washburn in extra innings and dropping their final game of the weekend 5-2 against Missouri Western State. Overall on the weekend, the Golden Suns finish with a 3-1 record. Following today, the Golden Suns are 6-4 overall on the season.
GAME ONE
In the opening game of the day the Golden Suns won a huge battle over No. 22 Washburn in extra innings.
The game as a whole was a duel between pitchers as
Bailey Buffington had another great outing for Arkansas Tech as the starter in the circle for the game.
Offensively, no runs were scored by either team in seven innings which forced the game into an extra eighth to play. Tech would collect their first hit of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth with a single to left field by
Makenzie Goins.
Another two hits came in the bottom of the seventh with
Bradi Basler sending out a single and
Kassie Mayberry also putting out a single and would advance to second on the throw which pushed ahead the runner already on base for Tech to third. Washburn would pick up the final out of the seventh after Mayberry's single to send the game into extra innings.
The Ichadbods would get within striking distance to score a run in the top of the eighth as they managed to get two runners in position on second and third base. Buffington would get the next batter out on a flyout and the Golden Suns would record the final out of the inning on a clutch unassisted out at the plate to get the runner from third out and escape the inning holding Washburn to no runs once again.
In the bottom of the frame, the Golden Suns would find themselves in a tough spot as Washburn collected two straight outs to start as Goins headed to the plate. Goins would erupt connecting and smashing an extra inning walk-off solo homerun over the right field wall to power the Golden Suns to their clutch 1-0 win over No. 22 Washburn.
Buffington would get the win and move to 4-1 on the season. The Benton, Ark. native pitched a complete eight inning game allowing only four total hits, no runs and would strikeout four in her outing.
GAME TWO
In the second game of the day, the Golden Suns faced Missouri Western State. Getting the start in the circle for the Golden Suns was
Kaila Cartwright.
Cartwright would begin the game with a leadoff walk to the Griffons. The next batter would reach base on a fielders choice as Tech opted to get the runner headed to second out. Another walk would put two on base for Missouri Western in the top of the first. The Griffons would record the first run of the game with a single to center field, but the Golden Suns would hold them to just the single run in the opening inning of play.
In the top of the second inning, Cartwright opened retiring the first two hitters in the order on line outs. Following that, the Griffons hit a two out solo homerun, followed by a double to left field and a two run homer to strike the scoreboard again taking a 4-0 lead early in the game. Following the three straight hits with two outs, the Golden Suns would put in Basler to replace Cartwright in the circle.
The Golden Suns would get their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning that started with a two out single bunt to the pitcher by
Shelby Chavers.
Brooke Prewitt would follow Chavers with a single of her own up the middle, which advanced Chavers to third base.
Kaylyn Aguirre would drive in the run with a single to left field scoring Chavers and making it a 1-4 game.
Neither team would produce a run in the fourth, sending the game into the fifth.
Basler would walk a batter in the top of the frame and the Griffons would hit a double to center field following the walk to put two in scoring position. A single to the Tech shortstop would advance the runner from third to score Missouri Westerns final run of the game making it 5-1 at the end of five.
In the top of the sixth, Basler would retire three straight to get the Golden Sun bats back on the field for a chance to chip into the Griffons lead. Following a flyout by Goins,
Makenzie Addis would deliver a double to center field to put herself in scoring position for Tech.
Jessica Williams would follow with a single of her own to advance Addis to third. Addis would score on a groundout to the Griffon second baseman by Basler to make it a 2-5 deficit.
Once again, Basler put in work and retired three straight to give the Golden Suns one last chance to make a run in the bottom of the seventh. Mayberry led the inning off with a big double to left center field and would advance to third on a groundout by Chavers. Following a pop up to the shortstop, Aguirre would head back to the plate with two outs and a runner on third for Tech. Aguirre managed to pick up a single, but on a bunt to third base which left Mayberry unable to stirke home plate. The Griffons would record the final out in the next at-bat and take the game 5-2.
Cartwright picks up the loss and is 0-1 on the season. In relief, Basler pitched 5.1 total innings and allowed two hits, one run and struck out five.
The Golden Suns will play their final stretch of nonconference games before the start of Great American Conference action next weekend in Edmond, Okla. as they get ready to compete in the GAC/MIAA Crossover. The team will play a total of five games on the weekend, which will start on Friday and run through Sunday.
