RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech softball team dropped the final game of their GAC season series against No. 18 Harding 0-1 on Tuesday evening at the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex. Following this evenings action, the Golden Suns are now 25-17 overall with a 14-9 record against Great American Conference opponents.
The game between the Golden Suns and Bisons was a full on pitching showcase as both teams made it difficult for hitters to make good, consistent contact with the ball.
Leading the effort in the circle for the Golden Suns and earning the start was
Bailey Buffington. Across her first two innings of action in the circle, Buffington would collect two swinging strikeouts on a pair of hitters in the Bisons order.
In the bottom of the second inning, Tech would collect their first hit of the day with a single to left centerfield by
Kacie Gibbins. Following that single,
Jessica Williams would send out a single of her own to left centerfield to put two on for the Golden Suns.
Gibbins would make it to third, while Williams would be thrown out at second and
Kaylyn Aguirre would reach first on the fielders choice. Then, the bases would load with two outs for the Golden Suns as Harding walked
Kassie Mayberry. The Bisons would collect the final out of the inning to escape the high pressure situation the Golden Suns had forced in the inning.
Buffington produced a strong third inning getting three straight outs to once again stop the Bisons from scoring any runs.
The Golden Suns would once again find themselves in a two out bases loaded situation in the bottom of the fourth after Aguirre was hit by a pitch, but the Bisons would once again narrowly escape the situation unscathed collecting the final out of the inning.
Dani Lindsey would record the final hit of the day for the Golden Suns in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two out single up the middle.
Harding would score the lone and deciding run of the game in the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle that scored their runner on second to take the 1-0 lead.
To close out the game in the top of the seventh,
Kaila Cartwright would come in for Buffington in the circle. The senior would produce a solid inning getting three of her four total batters faced out. The Bisons would ultimately end the day in the bottom of the frame and escape with the 1-0 win.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns now look ahead to this weekend where they will play their final GAC home series of the season as they host East Central. This weekend will also be senior weekend for the team.
