RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team played the opening game of their three-game Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene on Friday night at home and came up just short in a wild, high-scoring affair, 9-6.
After a scoreless first two innings, Southern Nazarene struck for four runs on just two hits and took advantage of a Tech error as three of those runs were unearned. All three of those runs scored on a two-out, three-run home run.
The Golden Suns answered right back with some firepower of their own in the bottom of the inning as they got two of the runs back on the strength of a two-run home run from
Anna Winkfield. In the at-bat prior,
Neveah Wilson led the frame off with an infield single.
Later in the inning, the Golden Suns continued to threaten and had the bases loaded with one out after a walk to
Sadie Turner and consecutive singles from
Maycie Hardy and
Sharlee Jackson. Unfortunately, the Crimson Storm were able to get out of the inning without any further damage on an inning-ending double play.
In the third, SNU kept their offense rolling and scored five runs in the inning to take a 9-2 lead.
That score held until the bottom of the sixth when the Golden Suns scored three runs on three hits, while also taking advantage of a pair of SNU errors. Hardy led the inning off with a single and then got to third in the next at-bat as the Crimson Storm were unable to successfully start a double play.
Caroline Wilhelm then singled to third base to load the bases with no outs.
The first run would follow as
Riley Drake cashed in a quality at-bat with a walk, forcing home Hardy. The Golden Suns then scored their second run, but it came at the cost of two outs as the Crimson Storm were able to turn another key double play with the bases loaded. Following that twin-killing, the Golden Suns scored their third run of the frame on an infield single by
Neveah Wilson.
In the top of the seventh inning, Tech reliever
Aidan Dayberry worked around a walk and a single to keep the Crimson scoreless and keep it a four-run deficit for the Golden Suns heading into the bottom of the seventh.
That half inning got going with a leadoff walk issued to
Kacie Gibbins. Two batters later, Hardy collected her fourth hits of the game as she singled to left. After the second out was registered, Wilhelm drove in Tech's sixth and final run on the game on a single to left-centerfield.
The Golden Suns will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as the final two games of the series will be played as part of a doubleheader starting at Noon. Prior to the game, the Golden Suns will honor the life and legacy of Joy Miller, a great, long-time supporter of Golden Suns softball who passed away from Acute myleiod leukemia this past June. As part honor Miss Joy, her husband, Mr. Mike Miller will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
