Golden Suns Softball Goes 3-3 to Open 2019

Arkansas Tech University’s softball team began its 2019 softball season by earning three wins and suffering three losses during a classic in Houston, Texas, Friday through Monday.

The Golden Suns (3-3) will play four more non-conference contests during a crossover classic in Bentonville on Saturday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 10.

Game One: Texas A&M-Commerce 8, Arkansas Tech 4

Texas A&M University-Commerce’s Bri Sims went 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs batted in and the Lions earned an 8-4 victory over Arkansas Tech on Friday.

TAMU-Commerce starting pitcher Katie Dean (1-0) allowed four runs on seven hits over six and two-thirds innings.

Reliever Bailey Shaffer (0-1) pitched one and one-third innings in relief for the Golden Suns. She was charged with three runs on three hits.

Tech’s Sydnie Henson collected two RBIs and Ashton Sangster notched two base hits.

Game Two: Arkansas Tech 6, Minnesota-Duluth 4

Megan Goodnight’s walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Arkansas Tech a 6-4 win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday.

Goodnight went 4-for-4 at the plate. Makenzie Goins also drove in two runs for the Golden Suns.

ATU relief pitcher Cara Tolar (1-0) limited the Bulldogs to one run on two hits in four innings.

Game Three: Central Oklahoma 8, Arkansas Tech 7

University of Central Oklahoma reliever Bailey McKittrick stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position to the end game and give the Bronchos an 8-7 win against Arkansas Tech on Saturday.

McKittrick (2-0) allowed one run on four hits over two innings.

Goodnight and Sarah Coronado had three hits apiece for the Golden Suns.

Tech’s Tolar (1-1) surrendered three runs out of the bullpen. She pitched one and two-thirds innings.

UCO’s Lexy Dobson went 3-for-4 with five RBIs.

Game Four: Cameron 3, Arkansas Tech 2

Cameron University defeated Arkansas Tech 3-2 on Saturday after Raley Long raced home with the go-ahead run on a double steal attempt in the top of the 11th inning.

Rylee Willmon (2-0) pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th to secure the win for the Aggies. She threw 188 pitchers in her complete-game performance. She scattered 13 hits over 11 innings.

Shaffer (0-2) allowed one run in three innings of relief work for the Golden Suns.

Tech’s Bailey Bunch was 3-for-6 with a run batted in.

Game Five: Arkansas Tech 5, West Texas A&M 3

Arkansas Tech’s Paty Loredo delivered the go-ahead RBI in a 5-3 Golden Suns’ victory over West Texas A&M University on Sunday.

Loredo’s sixth-inning single sent Sangster home to give the Golden Suns a 4-3 edge. Goins followed with an RBI single that made it 5-3.

Kristen Dempsey (1-0) pitched a scoreless top of the seventh inning to put Tech’s win on ice.

Game Six: Arkansas Tech 6, Augustana 4

Goodnight earned the win in the circle and drove in two runs during a 6-4 Arkansas Tech victory against Augustana University on Monday.

Goodnight (1-0) pitched five and two-thirds innings. She allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits.

Coronado also had two hits for the Golden Suns.