For a third consecutive weekend, Arkansas Tech University’s softball team went on the road and won 3-of-4 games against peer competition from the NCAA Division II Central Region.
The Golden Suns (9-3) earned three victories and suffered one loss during a classic in Emporia, Kan., on Saturday and Sunday.
Arkansas Tech will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 25, and Monday, Feb. 26, with a four-game series against Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Bentonville High School. The series was originally scheduled to be played in Russellville, but inclement weather and anticipated soggy field conditions necessitated the move.
Follow www.arkansastechsports.com for live coverage beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday and noon Monday.
Game One: Tech 5, UMSL 3
Arkansas Tech built a big early lead and then held on to defeat the University of Missouri-St. Louis 5-3 on Saturday.
A solo home run and sacrifice fly by Sarah Coronado along with RBI singles by Ashton Sangster and Bailey Bunch helped the Golden Suns claim a 4-0 edge after two innings.
The Tritons struck for three runs in the top of the third, but Tech’s Megan Goodnight resolved that UMSL’s comeback would proceed no further.
Goodnight delivered a RBI single in the bottom of the third and later provided the Golden Suns with three scoreless innings of relief. She scattered four hits, struck out two batters and induced six ground outs while garnering her second save of 2018.
Cara Tolar (2-2) started in the circle for Tech and allowed three runs on six hits in four innings.
Game Two: Concordia-St. Paul 4, Tech 3
Carlie Hart’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears to walk off with a 4-3 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday.
Bunch and Sangster notched two base hits apiece for the Golden Suns.
Game Three: Tech 6, Pittsburg State 5
Paige Mendoza went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to lead Arkansas Tech to a 6-5 win over Pittsburg State on Sunday.
Bunch, Coronado and Makenzie Addis recorded one RBI apiece for the Golden Suns.
Tolar (3-2) started in the circle for Tech and allowed five runs on four hits in five and one-third innings.
Bailey Shaffer came out of the Golden Suns’ bullpen to get the final two outs in the top of the sixth inning and strand three Gorillas on base. Goodnight pitched a perfect top of the seventh for her third save of the season.
Game Four: Tech 8, Northeastern State 6
Arkansas Tech clubbed four home runs in an 8-6 victory against Northeastern State University on Sunday.
Coronado, Mendoza, Addis and Goodnight all went deep for the Golden Suns. Coronado’s three-run blast to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Tech a 7-6 lead. Mendoza followed with a solo home run that set the eventual final score.
Goodnight (2-0) pitched in relief and got the final six outs.
