RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team hosted Rogers State in a key in-region doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon and the results matched the hype as the twin-bill was split with each team winning 1-0.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Golden Suns threatened to get on the board early as they had the bases loaded with two outs thanks to a single from
Anna Winkfield and walks drawn by
Aubree Jones and
Caroline Wilhelm. Unfortunately, the Golden Suns stranded the bases loaded as Rogers State was able to get a strikeout for the final out of the frame.
In the top of the third, Rogers would score the game's lone run as they brought around a one-out double on a RBI infield single. The Golden Suns threatened to tie it up in their half of the inning as they had two on with one out, but again, the Hillcats wiggled off the hook via the strikeout.
After neither team scored in the fourth, Rogers had traffic on the base path in the fifth with two hits, a steal and a hit-by-pitch, but Tech starter
Aly White did not allow a run to score, keeping it a 1-0 game.
One final push by the Golden Suns came in the seventh as they put together a major two-out rally.
Aaliyah Dixon got the rally going with a walk. Winkfield then singled to move her to second.
Miya Curry followed with a single to center and on the play, Dixon attempted to score the tying run, but was called out on a bang-bang play at the plate to end the game.
GAME TWO
A scoreless stalemate played out for the first six and a half innings before the Golden Suns walked off with the win on a RBI single to left field by Curry in the bottom of the seventh.
In that seventh inning,
Riley Drake drew a leadoff walk and was then pinch-ran for by
Abby Lowery. Lowery was then moved up to scoring position on a sac bunt from Dixon. Winkfield, who 3-for-5 with a double against Rogers to that point in the day, was then unintentionally intentionally walked.
Just as Winkfield was getting the free pass, Arkansas Tech Associate AD for Athletic Communications,
Daniel Gallegos and department social media extraordinaire,
Destini Nguyen pulled up to the berm in centerfield next to the flag pole proudly hoisting and displaying Old Glory in a utility Gator vehicle after having put the finishing touches on a Wonder Boys baseball 19-4 drubbing of Union just a stone's throw away at Baswell Field.
Most assuredly with their presence now in attendance, Curry ripped the aforementioned game-winning hit.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will now turn their attention to a pivotal series at home against Harding. With expected inclement weather in the Russellville area on Friday, the series will now begin with a single game at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 and conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at Noon.
Prior to that doubleheader on Saturday, the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Pack the Berm, presented by Lee Ann's Fine Jewelry.
