MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team dropped both ends of Saturday's doubleheader on the road at Southern Arkansas. Each game was close and low-scoring, but Tech came out on the downside of a 4-3 final in game one and a 4-2 final in the second game.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Golden Suns struck first and did so hard with three runs in the top of the first inning.
Sadie Turner was responsible for the first run of that frame as she led the inning and game off with a solo home run out to right field.
Later in the inning, the bases were loaded with one out following a hit-by-pitch to
Kacie Gibbins, a walk to
Anna Winkfield and a single through the left side by
Maycie Hardy. A lineout for the second out of the inning followed and threatened to limit the Tech scoring to a single run, but
Lexi Gorniak came through with a clutch two-run double to left.
The Muleriders, unfortunately, had an answer in their half of the first and after a walk and a single started the inning off, both scored on a two-RBI double. Not long after that, SAU had loaded the bases with no outs, but the Golden Suns were able to not allow another run to score thanks to a pair of fielder's choices that cut down the runner at the plate and a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
After neither team scored in the second, SAU rallied for a pair of two-out RBI hits to take the lead, 4-3.
The Golden Suns would go relatively quietly the rest of the game as SAU held on for their second one-run win of the series.
GAME TWO
With the same starting pitching matchup as the series opener on Friday, game two of Saturday's doubleheader was a pitcher's duel again, this time with neither team scoring over the first three innings.
That all changed in the fourth inning, as all the runs scored by both teams occurred in the frame.
For the Golden Suns, they would score twice on two hits, but left the bases loaded. The inning got going with a one-out single by
Savannah Snow, who was then pinch-ran for by
Brooklyn Haney. Gorniak drew a walk to push Haney to second.
Caroline Wilhelm was then hit-by-a-pitch to load the bases. Hardy then drove in the first run on a single to left. The second run was forced home on a walk to Turner. SAU then ecaped any further damage by getting the next two outs.
In their half of the fourth, SAU scored four runs on five hits as they took the lead.
After going down in order in the fourth, the Golden Suns would put the tying run on base in each of the final two innings, but were unable to bring them around.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now turn their attention a return home for a three-game weekend series against Arkansas-Monticello. The series is scheduled to start on Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m. from the Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.
