EDMOND, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech softball team came up big in the final inning on the road against No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma on Friday, scoring five runs in the seventh to beat UCO, 5-2. The comeback win gave the Golden Suns a split on the day after they lost to Washburn 12-8 in the first game of the day.
WASHBURN
Against Washburn, the Golden Suns got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the first. That run was scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Kacie Gibbins.
Washburn would respond with two runs in the top of the second, but the Golden Suns were able to tie it in the bottom of the frame on a RBI double down the left field line by
Addy Ward. The scoring continued for Washburn in their half of third with two more runs, as the Ichabods went up 4-2.
Tech responded in a big way in the bottom of the frame by scoring five runs on five hits.
Savannah Snow led off the inning with a single to right. She was then pinch-ran for by
Neveah Wilson. In the next at-bat, Wilson took second on a passed ball and later scored on a RBI double by Gibbins. A sacrifice bunt moved Gibbins to third where she then scored on a two-run home run by
Maycie Hardy, which gave Tech the lead, 5-4.
A walk was then issued to
Anna Winkfield followed by a single by Ward, prompting a pitching change for Washburn.
AJ Fike then drove in Winkfield on a single up the middle. Ward was able to take third on the play to position her for the sacrifice fly opportunity that was cashed in by
Sadie Turner.
Unfortunately, Washburn's offense continued to do damage as they struck for seven runs in the top of the fourth to take an 11-7 lead. The Ichabods would only register two hits in the inning as they took advantage of four walks and an error in the inning. The big blow was a two-out grandslam that broke what was a 7-all tie at the time.
The Golden Suns were able to get a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Washburn pushed the advantage back out to four runs with a tally in the seventh to bring the score its final of 12-8.
NO. 13 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
After the heartbreak of the opening game, the Golden Suns had to turn right around and take on No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma on their home field and after one inning of play, Tech trailed 2-0.
That score would hold until the top of the seventh inning when the Golden Suns put together the game-changing rally as they scored five runs on four hits while also taking advantage of a Broncho error.
Prior to that top of the seventh, the Golden Suns had managed just one hit in the game.
In that seventh inning,
Kacie Gibbins, who had that lone hit to that point, led off with a single to center. That was promptly followed by a single to right-centerfield by
Caroline Wilhelm. After the first out was recorded,
Anna Winkfield loaded the bases as she drew walk.
Addy Ward then beat out an infield single to the pitcher to bring home the first run, scoring Gibbins.
AJ Fike then tied the game at two-all on a sacrifice fly. A walk to
Sadie Turner extended the inning and re-loaded the bases for
Maycie Hardy, who would reach first on an error by the UCO shortstop. That error allowed two runs to score for the Golden Suns as they suddenly were up 4-2.
Following a pitching change, the Golden Suns got a run of insurance thanks to a RBI single down the right field line by
Savannah Snow.
That extra run to make it a three-run game ended up being mute as starting pitcher
Alexis Findley was able to retire UCO in order in the bottom of the seventh to put the finishing touches on the thrilling 5-2 comeback win.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now return home where they will prepare for a Sunday doubleheader against Northeastern State. First-pitch is scheduled for Noon.
