Arkansas Tech University moved into a tie for second place in the Great American Conference softball standings by taking three of four games during a weekend series against East Central University in Ada, Okla.
The Golden Suns (26-10 overall, 17-7 GAC) will visit Harding University (25-9, 17-7) for a GAC doubleheader in Searcy on Wednesday, April 4. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Live coverage will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
Game One: Tech 4, ECU 0
Megan Goodnight pitched a shutout and drove in three runs to lead Arkansas Tech past East Central 4-0 in the series opener on Friday.
Goodnight (8-1) allowed four hits over seven innings of work in the circle. She was 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run.
Game Two: Tech 7, ECU 6
Arkansas Tech overcame an East Central comeback bid to take a 7-6 decision in Friday’s nightcap.
The Golden Suns led 7-0 midway through the fifth inning. The Tigers scored their first run of the series in the last of the fifth and added five more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Bailey Shaffer (7-1) emerged from the Tech bullpen to get a strike out and a pop out to end the sixth inning and strand three ECU base runners.
Goodnight retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh for her eighth save of 2018.
Makenzie Addis hit a solo home run and Goodnight had two runs batted in for the Golden Suns.
Game Three: ECU 3, Tech 2
East Central relief pitcher Angel Stoker helped the Tigers hang on for a 3-2 victory over Arkansas Tech in game one of a Saturday doubleheader.
Stoker entered with the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the seventh inning. She induced two pop outs to end the Golden Suns’ scoring threat and collect her second save of the season.
ECU starter Jessica Sisemore (2-3) allowed two runs on three hits over six and one-third innings.
Tech’s Janie Knowles with 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Game Four: Tech 12, ECU 8
A seven-run rally in the top of the seventh inning sent Arkansas Tech to a 12-8 win against East Central in the series finale on Saturday.
Shaffer scored the go-ahead run when she came home on a bases loaded walk to Bailey Bunch. Paige Mendoza followed with a three-run single to provide the Golden Suns with what proved to be their final margin.
Mendoza was 5-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. She tied the Tech record for hits in a game.
Addis and Gaby Vasquez also homered for the Golden Suns. Goodnight was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ashley Landry drove in two runs.
Kristen Dempsey (7-2) was the winning pitcher. Goodnight was credited with her ninth save of the season.
