Arkansas Tech University went to Searcy on Tuesday and took two games from Harding University in Great American Conference softball.
The nationally fourth-ranked Golden Suns (32-2) defeated the Lady Bisons 4-3 and 8-6 to extend their winning streak to five games.
Arkansas Tech will visit the University of Arkansas-Monticello for a four-game GAC series on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
Game One: Tech 4, HU 3
Arkansas Tech did all of its damage in the top of the first inning and then held on for a 4-3 win over Harding in game one Tuesday.
Destiny Crumpley had an RBI single, Janie Knowles drove in a run with a ground out and Megan Goodnight notched a two-run single to give the Golden Suns a four-run outburst to start the game.
Harding’s Peyton Mills delivered a two-run home run in the third inning and a run-scoring single in the fifth inning to pull the Lady Bisons within one run of the lead, but that was all that Tech starting pitcher Jalissa Gum would allow. Harding stranded six runners on base over the final three innings.
Gum (12-1), who threw 156 pitches, struck out seven and allowed seven hits over seven innings. She was charged with three runs.
Hannah Johnson (12-3) pitched a complete game for the Lady Bisons. She surrendered four runs on eight hits.
Game Two: Tech 8, HU 6
Another fast start led to another Arkansas Tech victory in the nightcap.
The Golden Suns scored five runs in the top of the first inning on their way to an 8-6 win over Harding.
A two-run home run by Kambri Hill and a two-run double by Crumpley helped Arkansas Tech build its big early lead.
The Lady Bisons scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within 7-6.
Golden Suns relief pitcher Kelsie Barker put out the fire. She provided Tech with three scoreless innings of relief for her fourth save of the season.
Morgan Vaughan (12-0) started in the circle for the Suns. She earned the win after allowing six runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits over four-plus innings.
Harding starting pitcher Ashley Smith (7-5) gave up six runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning.
The first eight hitters in the Arkansas Tech starting line-up each had at least one base hit. Goodnight and Gaby Vasquez led the way with two hits apiece. One of Goodnight’s hits was a home run.
