Nationally fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech University rolled over East Central University for a four-game Great American Conference softball series sweep at Ada, Okla., on Saturday and Sunday.
With the sweep, the Golden Suns (25-2 overall, 17-1 GAC) assumed sole possession of first place in the GAC softball standings.
Arkansas Tech will step out of league play on Wednesday, March 23, for a non-conference doubleheader against Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan.
Game One: Tech 9, ECU 0
Jalissa Gum led Arkansas Tech to a 9-0 win over East Central in game one of the series on Saturday.
Gum (8-0) pitched a two-hit shutout and went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in at the plate. Tech’s Alex Edinger and Sarah Coronado had three hits apiece. Coronado and Destiny Crumpley both had two RBIs for the Suns.
ECU starting pitcher Lacey Paulk (3-6) allowed nine runs, eight of which were earned, on 11 hits in six innings.
Game Two: Tech 4, ECU 1
Morgan Vaughan went the distance in the circle for Arkansas Tech in a 4-1 victory in Saturday’s second game.
Vaughan (8-0) surrendered one run on three hits over seven innings. She struck out six and induced 13 ground outs.
Edinger and Coronado notched three hits apiece for a second consecutive game for the Golden Suns.
ECU starting pitcher Marissa Shaffer (7-6) was charged with four runs on 10 hits over seven innings.
Game Three: Tech 4, ECU 1
Gum collected her third double-digit strikeout game of 2016 to pitch Arkansas Tech to a 4-1 win over East Central in game one on Sunday.
The junior from Red Rock, Okla., limited East Central to one run on four hits while striking out 11 Tigers over seven innings. Gum (9-0) walked just one ECU batter.
Arkansas Tech was led offensively by Megan Goodnight’s two runs scored and one run batted in. Chloe Clifton added an RBI double for the Suns.
East Central starting pitcher Sydney Dow (3-1) allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings.
Game Four: Tech 6, ECU 1
Crumpley went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs and Vaughan pitched her second complete game of the weekend to lead Arkansas Tech to a 6-1 victory over East Central in the series finale.
Vaughan (9-0) struck out seven Tigers over seven innings. She allowed one run on four hits.
Kelbie Crelia (1-4) started in the circle for East Central. She was tagged for four runs on four hits in three innings.
