Southwestern Oklahoma State defeated Arkansas Tech 6-1 and eliminated the Golden Suns from the 2012 Great American Conference Softball Tournament at Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Suns finish their 2012 softball season with an overall record of 16-31.
SWOSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Kristyn Shawver’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Arkansas Tech’s Ashton Long answered in the top of the second with a solo home run — the first home run of the freshman’s collegiate career — that tied the score 1-1.
Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Audra Chambless broke the tie and put the Bulldogs in front for good when she delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Arkansas Tech put runners at second and third base with one out in the top of the sixth, but SWOSU pitcher Katrina Johnson was able to get a strikeout and a ground out to preserve the 2-1 Bulldogs’ lead.
Southwestern Oklahoma State tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Johnna Smith delivered the biggest blow of the rally. Her two-out, two-run single set what proved to be the final score.
Johnson retired the Golden Suns in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Arkansas Tech’s Alicia Zack (photographed) went 2-for-4. Long, Hayley Hudson, Siarra Gomez, Jessica Black and Cassady Haworth added one hit apiece.
Chambless was 3-for-4 and Megan Watson went 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs.
Johnson (14-8) pitched two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief for the win. She struck out two and allowed just one hit.
Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Rachel Keeton (6-17) suffered the loss. She allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. Keeton struck out four.
Click here to follow continuing coverage of the GAC Softball Tournament this weekend.
Click here to learn more about Golden Suns softball.
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