CONROE, Texas – The Arkansas Tech softball team wrapped up their opening weekend of action at the D2 First Pitch Invitational on Sunday with a big time 5-2 win over nationally-ranked No. 17 Wingate.
The Golden Suns were the first to strike in the game with a run in the bottom of the first.
Kaylyn Aguirre led the inning off with a walk and in the next at-bat scored thanks to a successful sacrifice bunt by
Kacie Gibbins and some aggressive base running.
After Gibbins got the bunt down, Aguirre had taken second and then headed for a vacated third base. Wingate attempted to get Aguirre out at third, but the throw by the Bulldogs' second baseman was errant, allowing Aguirre to score.
That early 1-0 lead for the Golden Suns held until the top of the fourth when Wingate plated two runs on three hits in the inning. The one-run Bulldog lead would not last long, however, as the Golden Suns responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning.
Savannah Snow led the inning off with a single to left and then was pinch-ran for by
Cora Skaggs. Skaggs was then moved to third on a single to left-centerfield off the bat of
Dani Lindsey. With runners on the corners and no outs, the Golden Suns went to tie the game on a sacrifice bunt, but Wingate made a great play at the plate to thwart that effort.
Two batters later, the Golden Suns were in danger of not scoring in the inning as there were two outs. Fortunately,
Abigail Lochala came through with a clutch two-RBI double to left-centerfield to give Tech the lead 3-2. One batter later, the Golden Suns got another two-out knock as
Adrianna Cooney singled to centerfield to score Lochala.
After neither team scored in the fifth and Tech starter
Bradi Basler held Wingate scoreless in the top of the sixth as well, the Golden Suns picked up a run of insurance in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch-hit RBI base hit by
Riley Drake. Her knock drove in Lindsey, who had led the inning off with a triple to left-centerfield.
In the top of the seventh, Wingate would threaten the Tech lead as they had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but a terrific play at the hot corner by
Maycie Hardy ended the game as she fielded a sharply hit ball and made an on-target throw to first.
Basler earned the win, her third of the season, as she went the distance. In her seven innings of work, Basler scattered eight hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for another weekend full of action next weekend as they travel to Northwest Arkansas for the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. The first opponent for the Golden Suns at the classic is Truman State on Saturday, February 10. First-pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. from Field 8 at Memorial Park in Bentonville.
