BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team won their opening round game of the 2024 Great American Conference Tournament, 6-5, over No. 8-seed Henderson State on Thursday morning to advance to the quarterfinal round later that same day. The season would come to a close in that quarterfinal round, however, as the Golden Suns lost to No. 4-seed Southern Arkansas, 8-2.
HENDERSON STATE
In the game against Henderson State, the Reddies got out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a two-out solo home run in the top of the first inning. That defict would not last long, however, as the Golden Suns' offense came out on fire in their half of the frame.
After the first out of the bottom of the first was made,
Lillee Mahan got on with an infield single to the pitcher. Following the second out of the inning in the ensuing at-bat, Mahan successfully swiped second base to put herself in scoring position.
Sydney Keaton then drove her in with an opposite-field triple down the right field line.
Savannah Snow then drove in Keaton with a solid single up the middle to give the Golden Suns a 2-1 lead. A batter later,
Kacie Gibbins doubled into the left-centerfield gap to score Snow all the way from first.
The Golden Suns would add two more runs in the bottom of the third to go up 5-1. Keaton had another RBI in that frame as she singled home
Maycie Hardy, who doubled to left in the at-bat prior. Later in the inning, pinch-runner
Cora Skaggs scored on a single to left field by
Adrianna Cooney.
The Reddies would score two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to pull within a run, 5-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Suns got an important insurance run off a RBI single by Gibibns. That knock drove in
Brooklyn Haney, who was pinch-running for Keaton, who singled to lead off the inning.
The Reddies were held scoreless in the sixth, but scored a run and had the tying run at third base in the top of the seventh before reliever
Bradi Basler was able to secure her third save of the season and advance the Golden Suns to later that day.
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
In the game against SAU, the Muleriders raced out to a 7-0 lead through the first two innings of play with a run scoring in the first and six in the second.
The Golden Suns got a run back in the top of the fourth to break up the shutout on a RBI groundout by Gibbins. SAU matched that run in their half of the inning, however, and still led by seven.
Tech scored their second and final run of the game in the top of the fifth on a RBI single to centerfield by Mahan.
