BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team played two games on the first day of the 2025 Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Bentonville on Friday and came up just short in each game, losing 3-2 to McKendree and 5-1 to No. 1-rankee UT Tyler.
McKENDREE
The Bearcats got on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Two innings later, McKendree had a 2-0 lead as they pushed across a second unearned run.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Suns got their offense going a bit as they tied the score at two-all.
Caroline Wilhelm led the inning off with a single to left. Two batters later, Lilliee Mahan singled to the pitcher on a bunt and then took second on an errant throw by the McKendree pitcher. That throwing error allowed Wilhelm to take third as well.
Anna Winkfield then came up and skied a ball into deep centerfield that was dropped by the Bearcats' centerfielder. The flyball was going to be deep enough to score Wilhelm on a sacrifice fly, which was credited to Winkfield, but the drop also allowed Mahan to score, tying the score at two.
Unfortunately, the Bearcats took a lead in their half of the fifth on a solo home run. That proved to the be the final run scored in the game as McKendree went on to secure the 3-2 win.
NO. 1 UT TYLER
In the game against the top-ranked Patriots, the Golden Suns fell behind early as UT Tyler scored single runs in the second and third innings. In the top of the fourth, Tech plated their lone run of the game on three hits.
Sadie Turner led the frame off with a single up the middle and was pinch-ran for by
Brooklyn Haney.
Savannah Snow then moved Haney into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt to first base.
Kacie Gibbins then followed with a single through the left side to put runners on the corners with one out.
Caroline Wilhelm then drove in Haney on a well-placed bunt single to third.
It would remain a 2-1 game until the bottom of the fifth when the Patriots scored three runs on three hits. All three of the runs were unearned.
The Golden Suns would threaten in the top of the sixth and had runners on second and third with one out, prompting the Patriots to go to their bullpen. The UT Tyler reliever would get the next two Tech batters out to escape the inning. She would go on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the 5-1 win for UT Tyler.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now look to bounce back on Saturday with two more games at the AEMC. They will take on Newman at 11 a.m. and Northwest Missouri at 1:30 p.m.
