RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – After battling No. 17-ranked Oklahoma Baptist down to the final out of both ends of Friday evening's doubleheader, the Arkansas Tech softball team found themselves in a similar situation in Saturday's finale. This time, the Golden Suns were able to get the clutch hit and came away with a 4-3 walk-off win.
Prior to the thrilling end, the Golden Suns grabbed the early lead in the game with a run in the first inning and then added a single run in the third. The run in the first saw
Anna Winkfield, who led the inning off with a double, score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Aubree Jones.
In the third, the Golden Suns got a leadoff home run from
Aaliyah Dixon to forge the 2-0 lead.
Oklahoma Baptist responded with a run in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk. After neither team scored in the fifth, the Bison flipped the game in their favor, 3-2, on the strength of a two-run home run.
The Bison threatened to score more in that inning, but reliever
Aly White did a masterful job getting the final two outs of the inning to keep it a one-run game.
Tech would not score in the bottom of the sixth and White carried over her performance in the last part of the sixth and retired the Bison in order in the seventh to keep the game within reach for the Golden Suns.
That proved to be extremely significant as the Golden Suns got the first two batters on base in the bottom of the seventh.
Miya Curry led the inning off with an infield single. She then stole second base to move into scoring position. Jones then drew a walk to put the potential winning run on base.
White, who was also in the lineup batting fourth as the DP, laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Curry to third and Jones to second. Moments later, Curry scored the tying run on a wild pitch. On that, Jones moved to third where a deep fly ball from
Caroline Wilhelm would win the game.
Wilhelm would not hit a deep fly ball for a sac fly, instead, she laced a single into left-centerfield for the game-winning hit.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a midweek doubleheader at home against Rogers State this coming Tuesday. First-pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
