Arkansas Tech University secured the fifth 40-win season in the history of its softball program by defeating Ouachita Baptist University 10-2 in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament at Bentonville on Wednesday.
The Golden Suns (40-17) advance to face Harding University in a winners’ bracket game at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Live coverage will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
Tech held a 3-2 lead after three-and-a-half innings on Wednesday and put it away by plating seven runs in the last of the fourth. All seven runs scored after the first two batters of the inning were retired.
The Suns rapped out seven base hits, four of which were doubles, during their fourth-inning rally.
Janie Knowles led Tech’s offensive attack by going 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs batted in and three runs scored.
Megan Goodnight, Sarah Coronado and Makenzie Addis added two RBIs apiece. Ashton Sangster scored two runs and set a GAC Tournament single-game record with three stolen bases.
Goodnight (15-4) pitched the first three innings for Tech and was named the winning pitcher. She allowed two unearned runs on four hits while inducing eight ground outs.
Cara Tolar recorded the final six outs of the game and was credited with her second save of 2018. The game was stopped after five innings due to the mercy rule.
OBU starting pitcher Marissa Butler (12-12) was charged with six runs on eight its in three and two-thirds innings.
By earning their 40th win of the season, the 2018 Golden Suns joined their counterparts from 2008, 2009, 2015 and 2016 as the only Tech softball teams to reach that plateau. The school record of 49 softball wins in a season was established by the 2016 Golden Suns.
