CONWAY, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team scored six unanswered runs over their final three at-bats to upend Henderson State in the series-opener on Friday night out at the City of Colleges Park in Conway.
Henderson jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the second, but the Golden Suns responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame as
Arissa Harrish reached first base on a throwing error by the Reddies' pitcher. That error allowed
Sydney Keaton, who led the inning off with a single up the middle, to score from second.
In the bottom of the third after retiring the Reddies in order, the Golden Suns loaded the bases with two outs, but weren't able to get the big hit at that moment. The Reddies made that unsuccessful scoring opportunity hurt some in the top of the next inning as they scored twice to take a 3-1 lead.
Just as they did the first time the Reddies scored, however, the Golden Suns had the answer in the bottom half, this time scoring three runs on four hits to take the lead, 4-3.
In that inning,
Maycie Hardy led off with a single the other way down the right field line. She was then pinch-ran for by
Brooklyn Haney, who promptly stole second base.
Shelby Chavers then hit an infield single to shortstop and advanced Haney to third. Chavers also stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
The first run of the inning then came home on a RBI groundout by
Kaylyn Aguirre. Two batters later, the Golden Suns got the tying run to cross the plate on a RBI infield single to shortstop off the bat of
Aidan Gorton. Keaton then followed that up on the next pitch with a RBI single to right field, scoring
Lexi Gorniak.
Tech starting pitcher
Bradi Basler then returned to the circle and struck the Reddies out in order to keep the momentum on the side of the Golden Suns.
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Suns turned to the bullpen for freshman
Jaycee McKee. McKee would allow a leadoff hit, but then got three-straight groundballs to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Golden Suns then provided McKee some breathing room by adding three more runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth. All three of those runs scored with two outs as the Golden Suns got clutch RBI hits from
Kacie Gibbins and Harrish. Gibbins' knock drove in two and went to left field while Harrish ripped her RBI single through the right side of the infield.
Now staked to a four-run lead, 7-3, McKee returned to the circle in search of her first collegiate save.
While it would not come super easy as the Reddies loaded the bases with two outs, McKee once more did not surrender a run in the inning, inducing a game-ending groundball to third base.
The Golden Suns and Reddies will conclude their three-game series on Saturday afternoon from the City of Colleges Park Field 1 in Conway. First-pitch of the twin-bill is scheduled for Noon.
