RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech softball team kept pace atop the Great American Conference standings on Saturday as they won both ends of their doubleheader against Harding, winning the first game, 5-4, in walk-off fashion and then 2-0 in the second game.
The DH sweep gives Tech the series sweep over Harding and keeps them tied for second place with Oklahoma Baptist at 24-6 in the GAC and two games back in the loss column to Southern Arkansas with one more weekend of games to be played.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the first inning was a wild affair with each team scoring twice. Harding plated their two runs in the frame without an out being recorded and a pair of Tech throwing errors. The Lady Bisons' only hit in the inning drove in the second run, but right after that, the Golden Suns settled things down with a double play and then got the next batter out on a ground out as well.
For the Golden Suns, their first inning started with leadoff hitter
Anna Winkfield getting hit-by-a-pitch. She then stole second and got to third shortly thereafter on an infield single by
Miya Curry. With runners on the corners, Curry successfully stole second to get out of a double play situation and have two runners in scoring position.
After the first out was recorded, the Golden Suns got a big hit from
Aly White as she singled through the left side to score Winkfield and Curry, tying the game at two.
That score held until the fourth when the Golden Suns scored an unearned run. After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, the Golden Suns scored another run in the bottom half to go up 4-2.
A two-run home run off the fair/foul pole down the right field line by Harding in the top of the sixth tied the game at 4-all. The Golden Suns were able to get out of the inning without further damage, but went down in order in the bottom half sending the game to the seventh tied at four.
In the top of the seventh, the Golden Suns went to the bullpen and brought in
Emily Richarde. She would handle the Lady Bisons that inning, retiring the side in order and recording a pair of strikeouts in the process.
Now with a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Suns' chances of doing so dwindled quickly as the first two outs were made within three pitches, but an single right in front of the plate by Curry extended the inning to
Aubree Jones.
During the Jones at-bat, Curry stole second to put herself into scoring position. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat Jones hammered a double to the gap in right-centerfield to chase home Curry and win it for the Golden Suns.
GAME TWO
The second game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when
Caroline Wilhelm hit a rule-book double to right field, scoring Jones, who led the inning off with a walk.
That ended up being the only run of support needed by Richarde, who started the game in the circle, but she was afforded a second run in the bottom of the sixth as White hit a fielder's choice to third that allowed Curry to score. Previously, Curry led the inning off with a single, stole second and then to third on a ground out in the at-bat prior to White's RBI.
Richarde provided no drama in the top of the seventh, retiring the Lady Bisons in order for her second win of the day against Harding.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns will close out their 10-game home stand on Monday with a non-conference doubleheader against Northeastern State. First-pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
