RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team pushed their winning streak out to seven games on Thursday as they took both ends of their doubleheader against Ouachita Baptist at home.
The Golden Suns would win the first game 3-0 and then came back to win the second game in their final at-bat, 2-1.
GAME ONE
The opening game saw the Golden Suns jump out to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a leadoff home run from
Sadie Turner in the bottom of the first inning. That score held until the bottom of the sixth as the Golden Suns got two runs of insurance from a clutch two-run home run from
Sharlee Jackson.
Those two extra runs in the sixth were more than enough for Golden Suns' game one starting pitcher,
Alexis Findley. The senior right-hander was dialed in throughout. So much so, she would go on to notch her third shutout of the season.
In her start, Findley allowed just two hits, walked five and struck out 11. Her 11 strikeouts were the second-most in a game for her this season.
GAME TWO
The second game continued the limited offensive output from the first game as neither team scored until the fifth inning. This time, it was Ouachita that was able to score first, doing so on a single to right-centerfield.
The Golden Suns were able to battle through a double play in their half of the fifth to push across their run in the frame.
Neveah Wilson led the inning off with a walk, but was erased during the next at-bat trying to make third on an attempted sac bunt by Turner.
Now down to their last out in the fifth,
Kacie Gibbins extended the frame with a double to left-centerfield. She was then driven in on a double from
Anna Winkfield in the next at-bat, tying the game at one-all.
Neither team scored in the sixth, sending the game to the seventh still tied.
Ouachita applied some pressure in the inning with a leadoff walk, but consecutive strikeouts recorded by reliver
Bradi Basler swung the advantage to Tech, needing just one more out. The Golden Suns would not need to get that out at the plate as the runner was called out for leaving first base early, ending the inning.
Now with a chance to walk-off in the bottom of the inning, the Golden Suns made two quick outs. Turner would keep the inning going, however, as she was hit-by-a-pitch. Turner was then pinch-ran for by
Brooklyn Haney.
The inning then appeared to be over as Gibbins lifted a fly ball out to shallow right field, but the ball was dropped, allowing Gibbins to reach safely and Haney to take third. The Golden Suns then got another error by Ouachita, this time on an errant throw from their shortstop, ending the game in favor of Tech.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns and Tigers will conclude their series with a single game on Friday. First-pitch is scheduled for Noon.
