RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team made their home debut on Tuesday afternoon against No. 18-ranked Pittsburg State and played the first two games on the newly installed turf. Unfortunately, Pitt State would win both ends of the mid-week doubleheader, winning game one, 5-0, and game two, 7-5.
GAME ONE
The opening game was a fast-moving pitcher's duel with Tech's
Bradi Basler and Pitt State's Ava Laurent going toe-to-toe over the first five innings. During that time, both pitchers held their opponents scoreless and combined for 12 strikeouts and seven hits.
In the top of the sixth, the Gorillas were the first to break through as they rallied for four runs on four hits, all with two outs. The Golden Suns were unable to match that and were retired in order in the bottom of the inning.
Pitt State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a RBI groundout.
The Golden Suns would get a two-out hit by
Kacie Gibbins in the bottom of the seventh, but nothing came of it.
GAME TWO
Game two saw the Gorillas take a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs scoring in the top of the second inning. The Golden Suns would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning as
Lexi Gorniak singled to the pitcher, scoring
Brooklyn Haney, who was pinch-running for
Abigail Lochala, who led off the inning with a single to left field.
An inning later, the Golden Suns tied the score on a RBI double by Lochala. Her double scored
Dani Lindsey, who had led the inning off with an infield single to first base.
In the top of the fourth, the Gorillas went back up by a pair of runs with two unearned runs coming home to score in the inning. An inning later, Pitt State added three more runs to take a 7-2 lead.
The Golden Suns still had fight left in them and got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single by Lochala. Lochala's third RBI of the game scored Gibbins, who doubled down the left field line in the at-bat prior.
After holding Pitt State off the board in the top of the sixth, the Golden Suns pulled within a pair of runs in the bottom half with two runs. Both of the runs came home on a two-RBI single down the left field line off the bat of Lindsey. Scoring on the play were
Shelby Chavers and Arrisa Harrish. Both has singled to left-centerfield earlier in the inning.
Neither team would score in the seventh as the second game ended, 7-5.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will be on the road this weekend at Ouachita Baptist for a three-game series. Weather permitting, the series is scheduled to start on Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m. in Arkadelphia.
