Arkansas Tech pounded out 27 base hits in a doubleheader sweep of the Delta State Lady Statesmen in Gulf South Conference softball action at University Field in Cleveland, Miss., on Saturday.
The Golden Suns (29-17 overall, 19-7 GSC) defeated the Lady Statesmen 17-1 and 10-7 to maintain sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division with one weekend of regular season play remaining.
Delta State (20-28, 11-15) took a 1-0 lead in game one on Emily Todd’s first-inning home run. It was all Arkansas Tech after that.
The Golden Suns scored three runs in the third inning and four runs in the fifth inning to build a 7-1 advantage.
Then came the top of the sixth inning, which saw Arkansas Tech send 14 batters to the plate. The Suns scored 10 runs on eight hits and Delta State was guilty of four errors in the inning as Tech scored 10 times to increase its lead to 17-1.
Amy Horne (4-1) retired the Lady Statesmen in order in the bottom of the sixth and the game was stopped early because of the mercy rule.
Horne struck out five and allowed one run on four hits in six innings.
Hayley Hudson and Tiphani Moon led Arkansas Tech’s 17-hit attack in game one. Hudson was 2-for-5 with a home run, five runs batted in and two runs scored. Moon was 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Horne, Shelby Jo Fenter and Alicia Zack added two RBIs each.
DSU starting pitcher Brittany Gonzales (7-16) was saddled with the game one loss after surrendering three runs in three and two-third innings.
Delta State led game two 6-5 after five innings, but the Golden Suns took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning when two Lady Statesmen errors on the same play allowed three Arkansas Tech runs to come home.
Fenter, Amy Kilpatrick and Moon had two RBIs apiece in the nightcap. Hudson went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Chelsea Evanoff (3-3) scattered seven hits over four innings of relief work to earn the win in the circle. Horne pitched the final one and two-third innings for Arkansas Tech and was credited with her second save of the season.
DSU starting pitcher Victoria Combs (10-11) took the loss. She allowed 10 runs on nine hits over six and one-third innings.
The Golden Suns will close out their 2011 regular season and look to clinch the GSC West Division title when they host Christian Brothers next weekend.
Arkansas Tech and CBU will play doubleheaders at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, and noon on Sunday, May 1.
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