RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech softball team picks up both wins against East Central on Saturday to secure the 3-0 series route of the Tigers. Not only did the Golden Suns secure the series sweep, but Tech did not allow East Central to score a single run over the course of the entire weekend. Following this afternoon's action, the Golden Suns move to 28-17 overall with a 17-9 record against Great American Conference opponents.
GAME ONE
In the opening game of the day, the Golden Suns and Tigers were locked in a tough defensive battle as both pitchers went head-to-head trying to keep the other from striking the scoreboard.
Getting the nod as the game on starter in the circle for the Golden Suns was
Bradi Basler, who would go on to pickup the win on the day to move to 9-7 overall on the season as a whole.
Across the first three innings of action, both starting pitchers were locked in a fierce battle each getting their first nine batters faced all out to begin the game. For Basler, she picked up one strikeout on her way to those flawless first three innings of action.
The Golden Suns would finally get one past the ECU starting pitcher in the bottom of the third as
Shelby Chavers hit a single out to left field for the first hit of the day for Arkansas Tech.
To start the top of the fourth inning, Basler would give up a leadoff double, but quickly regain control and get the next three hitters in the ECU lineup out. She would continue this streak in the top of the fifth inning only facing three batters for the fourth inning in the game.
Arkansas Tech would finally get the blow they needed to secure the win in game one in the bottom of the sixth inning. The inning began with a leadoff walk to
Makenzie Goins. Then,
Lexi Gorniak would come in to pinch hit for
Dani Lindsey and advance Goins on a sacrifice bunt to put her in scoring position on second base.
Ultimately, it would be
Makenzie Addis who would deliver the heroics the Golden Suns were looking for crushing her tenth homerun of the season over the left field wall to break the game wide open and give Tech the 2-0 lead in the game after six full innings of play.
Basler would close out the game in the circle for the Golden Suns and help secure the 2-0 win in game one over East Central.
GAME TWO
Game two would prove to be all one sided as the Golden Suns would come out on top to secure the series sweep and series shutout for the weekend.
Getting the start in the circle for the Golden Suns in game two was
Bailey Buffington.
The contest in game two would essentially be decided in the first inning of action as the Golden Suns swung the momentum in their favor right away. In the top of the first, Buffington would quickly send out the Golden Sun bats getting her first three batters faced out.
Heading to the bottom of the frame, the Golden Sun offense would come alive to begin the game. The Tigers would lead off the bottom of the frame with a walk to
Brooke Prewitt, who would then advance to second base off a sac bunt by Goins.
Dani Lindsey would then smash a monster triple out to deep right centerfield to score Prewitt for the first run of the game for the Golden Suns.
Addis would then drive in Lindsey in the next at-bat with well placed single to left field to put Tech on top 2-0.
Jessica Williams would record the third straight hit for the Golden Suns in the inning and move Addis ahead to second base. Both base runners would then advance ahead one more time off a wild pitch by the East Central pitcher.
Marking the fourth consecutive hit in the inning for Tech was
Kacie Gibbins with a single to right center field to score Addis for the third run of the frame. Gibbins would also advance to second on that play on the throw and WIlliams would hold at third base.
Arkansas Tech would see yet another hit as
Kassie Mayberry sent out a single to left field that would push Gibbins to third and bring home Williams to make it a 4-0 early lead for the Golden Suns.
Following the hit by Mayberry,
Annagrace Ferrell would come in to pinch run for Gibbins at third and would remain in the game for the rest of the way playing left field. A throwing error by the East Central catcher allowed Ferrell to strike home plate and give the Golden Suns their fifth and final run of the inning to hold a 5-0 lead after one full inning of action.
Over the next two innings, Buffington would continue a strong performance getting six of her next seven batters faced out.
In the bottom of the third inning, Tech would have a pair of back-to-back singles from Williams and Ferrell to try and put their team on the board once again, but the Tigers would manage to hold on and prevent Tech from doing any further damage on the board at that point in the game.
To start the top of the fourth inning,
Kaila Cartwright would come out to replace Buffington in the circle and would close out the game there. Cartwright would quickly get to work getting her first eight batters out over the next two and two thirds innings.
The bottom of the fifth inning would be where Tech would finish out the offensive performance for the day. The scoring plays would begin when Addis would reach first on a fielder's choice, while Williams would follow with a single through the left side to put two on with one out for Tech.
Ferrell would then reach first on a fielder's choice as ECU decided to get Williams out at second. With Addis on third, Ferrell would race over to second to record a stolen base and put both runners in scoring position.
Abigail Lochala would strikeout swinging, but reach first on a wild pitch that allowed Addis to strike home plate to tack on another run for Tech. The final run of the day and weekend would be scored by Ferrell as she would steal home plate from third to give the Golden Suns a commanding 7-0 lead over East Central.
From here, Cartwright would close up shop for the weekend and help give the Golden Suns their 7-0 route of the Tigers in the third and final game of the weekend. Cartwright gets the win for game two and moves to 4-1 overall on the season.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now play out the rest of the 2023 regular season on the road as they head to Durant, Okla. next weekend for an important GAC series against Southeastern Oklahoma State.
