DURANT, Okla. - The Arkansas Tech softball team drops both games in their doubleheader on the road at Southeastern. Following today's doubleheader, the Golden Suns are 28-20 overall with a 17-12 record against Great American Conference opponents.
GAME ONE
In the opening game of the afternoon the Golden Suns would strike the board early and put up the first two runs of the game. Getting the start in the circle was
Bradi Basler.
Makenzie Goins would be the first Golden Sun to reach base after a fielding error by the Southeastern third baseman allowed her to reach first. Back-to-back singles from
Makenzie Addis and
Jessica Williams would load the bases with two outs as
Kacie Gibbins approached the plate for her first at-bat of the game.
Gibbins would rip a well placed single down the right field line that would score both Goins and Addis for a pair of unearned runs that would give Arkanssas Tech the early 2-0 lead over the Savage Storm.
Those two runs in the top of the first would be the only runs the Golden Suns would manage to bring across in game one of the afternoon.
Basler would put in a solid first inning of work in the circle getting three of four total batters faced out.
The next hit for the Golden Suns would come off a single by Williams in the top of the fourth inning, while Goins would get a single across in the fifth inning.
Southeastern would get their offense going in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Savage Storm would ultimately score four total runs in the bottom of the frame to take a late 4-2 lead over the Golden Suns to head into the top of the seventh inning with the lead.
Shelby Chavers would hit pickup the final hit of the game for the Golden Suns with a single to left field and would be the only one to reach base in the inning. Southeastern would close out the game in the top of the seventh and take the 4-2 win over Tech in game one.
GAME TWO
Southeastern would be the team to strike early in game two. Getting the start in the circle for the final game of the day for Tech would be
Bailey Buffington.
The Savage Storm would begin with a one out single that would be followed by a triple to left field that would score their first run of game two and put one on third. A single to centerfield would score their second run of the inning, putting them ahead 2-0 over Tech following the first inning of play.
Buffington would have a better outing in the bottom of the second inning recording two strikeouts and holding the Savage Storm to no runs for the frame.
Arkansas Tech would strike the board for the first time in game two in the top of the third inning. It began with a leadoff single to centerfield by
Kassie Mayberry. Mayberry would then advance to second following a sacrifice bunt by Chavers.
A single to the Savage Storm pitcher by
Brooke Prewitt would put the base runners in the corners for Tech. Prewitt would follow her single by stealing second base, now putting both runners in scoring position on second and third.
A walk to Goins would load the bases as
Dani Lindsey approached the plate. Lindsey would reach first on a fielders choice as Southeastern decided to try and get Goins out at second, but would severely mess up the attempt as the shortstop would commit a fielding error that led Goins to safely reach second. This also allowed both Mayberry and Prewitt to score to tie the game at 2-2 at the end of the frame.
Buffington would get two outs, but also allow two hits to the Savage Storm in the bottom of the third. The Savage Storm would score a run on the second hit to take a 3-2 lead over Tech. Following this, the Golden Suns decided to go for a different look in the circle as
Kaila Cartwright would take over and close out the game there.
Both teams held each other to runs through five full innings as the game headed into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Southeastern would score their final run of the day in the bottom of the sixth off a groundout to second base that would allow enough room for the runner at third to score and take a 4-2 lead over the Golden Suns. The Savage Storm would ultimately ride that lead to the end and take game two of the doubleheader 4-2.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now prepare to close out the 2023 regular season as they head to Shawnee, Okla. next weekend for their final regular season GAC series against Oklahoma Baptist.
