RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team picked up a big win in the series-opener at home against Southern Arkansas on Friday night, beating SAU 4-3.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Golden Suns as the Muleriders threatened to score early in the first inning after they got a leadoff walk and an infield bunt single. Tech starter
Bradi Basler beared down after that, however, and struck out the next three batters to escape the inning without allowing a run.
After the Golden Suns were turned away in order in the bottom of the first, Basler worked around a one-out double in the second to keep the Muleriders off the board.
In the bottom of that inning, Tech manufactured their first run of the game after
Sydney Keaton led off with a double to centerfield. After her double, Keaton was quickly moved to third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by
Sharlee Jackson. On the very next pitch,
Aidan Gorton drove in Keaton with a line drive sacrifice fly to centerfield.
The Golden Suns would add a second run in the bottom of the fourth to double their lead to 2-0. Keaton would score that run as well as she crossed home plate on a wild pitch. Earlier in the inning, Keaton drew a four-pitch walk with one out.
That two-run lead did not last long, however, as SAU chased Basler from the start by loading the bases with two outs. Facing reliever
Jaycee McKee, SAU got a clutch two-out, two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at two-all. McKee would get the next batter out to keep the game tied.
In the bottom half, the Golden Suns responded with two runs on two hits.
Arissa Harrish led off the inning with a single through the left side.
Shelby Chavers then beat out a chopped single to the pitcher. On that play, SAU's pitcher, Sydney Ward threw the ball away trying to get Chavers, allowing Harrish to get to third.
With runners on the corners and no outs,
Lillee Mahan picked up the go-ahead RBI with a successful sacrifice bunt to third base, scoring Harrish. On the bunt, Chavers wisely took third as well as that base was left unoccupied by the SAU defense. Not long after that, Chavers scored on a wild pitch.
McKee then got Tech three outs away from the win as she retired the side in order in the sixth.
The Golden Suns were unable to get any insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, making it a two-run game heading into the seventh.
In that seventh inning, SAU would apply pressure early with consecutive singles to open the frame. McKee would get the first out of the inning in the next at-bat as she induced a fielder's choice to third. Another groundball followed, this time for a fielder's choice to second for the second out.
SAU then got within a run of the Tech lead as they scored a run and had the potential tying run at third on a throwing error. Two pitches later, that error was erased as McKee got a groundball to shortstop for the final out.
The Golden Suns and Muleriders will conclude their series on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m. from the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
