RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team battled No. 17-ranked Oklahoma Baptist to the final out of both ends of their doubleheader at home on Friday evening, but ultimately dropped both games.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Golden Suns threatened to score in the bottom of the first after consecutive singles from
Anna Winkfield and
Miya Curry to begin the inning. Both were then sacrificed over on a bunt by
Aubree Jones. Oklahoma Baptist then wiggled off the hook and turned a double play off a liner to centerfield.
Neither team would score in the second, but the Bison broke through for a run in the top of the third and took a 1-0 lead. They would add a second run in the top of the sixth to go up 2-0.
After not being able to get a leadoff walk around to score in their half of the sixth, the Golden Suns put together a serious threat in the bottom of the seventh and had the potential winning run at the plate with no outs.
Caroline Wilhelm led the inning off with a double down the left field line. She then advanced to third on a sharp single from
Destiney Madewell. Madewell was then pinch-ran for by
Aaliyah Dixon, who stole second base following the first out to put the potential tying run in scoring position with one out.
The Bison, unfortunately, wiggled off the hook again and got the next two outs to end the game.
GAME TWO
Oklahoma Baptist got out to the early lead in the second game and scored three runs on three hits in the top of the second. The Golden Suns were able to respond with two runs of their own in the bottom half.
Miya Curry got things going with a one-out infield single.
Victoria Hughes then followed with a clean single through the right side. The bases then were loaded with one out as the Bison committed a throwing error from their first baseman attempting to make the play at third.
After that, Dixon came through with a two-run single that one-hopped the wall in left field. No further runs would come, unfortunately, as the Golden Suns lined out in the next two plate appearances to end the inning.
Both teams would go three-up-three-down in each of their next three trips to the plate. Only a two-out single by Oklahoma Baptist broke that streak of retired batters. The Golden Suns' streak ended with two outs in the sixth inning as well as Madewell singled off the pitcher.
Nothing came of that hit in the sixth, but the Golden Suns once more had a significant threat in the last of the seventh.
Riley Drake drew a one-out walk and was pinch-ran for by
Abby Lowery. Dixon then hit a bunt single to push Lowery to scoring position as the potential tying run. Again, however, Oklahoma Baptist kept anything from happening on the scoreboard, retiring the next two hitters to end the game.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will look to salvage a game in the series. The finale will start at Noon on Saturday, April 18.
