Arkansas Tech University picked up four wins over peer NCAA Division II Central Region members during the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville on Friday and Saturday.
The Golden Suns (8-1), winners of six consecutive games, will begin the Great American Conference portion of their 2016 schedule by visiting Ouachita Baptist University for a four-game series in Arkadelphia on Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20.
Game One: Arkansas Tech 8, Minnesota State 0
Ashley Savage went 2-for-4 with four runs batted in and Jalissa Gum pitched a two-hit shutout to lift Arkansas Tech University to an 8-0 win over Minnesota State University on Friday.
Gum (2-0) notched five strikeouts over six innings. The game was stopped one inning early due to the mercy rule.
Kambri Hill had two RBIs for the Golden Suns, while Janie Knowles and Destiny Crumpley both hit a solo home run.
Minnesota State starting pitcher Coley Ries (0-1) allowed five runs on six hits in five innings.
Game Two: Arkansas Tech 8, Missouri Western 2
Arkansas Tech capitalized upon Missouri Western mistakes in the top of the sixth inning to come from behind for an 8-2 win on Friday.
The nationally 16th-ranked Golden Griffons made two errors during the decisive frame. The Golden Suns, who were trailing 2-1 after five innings, tied the score on an RBI single by Crumpley and took the lead on an RBI single by Sarah Coronado.
After Crumpley scored on an error, Alex Edinger capped the sixth-inning rally and provided Arkansas Tech with a 6-2 lead on her two-run single.
Knowles set the final margin with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh.
Tech starting pitcher Morgan Vaughan (4-0) limited Missouri Western to two runs on six hits. Sydnee Clark and Kelsie Barker combined to get the final six outs without allowing a run.
Missouri Western starter Shyanne Saladino (1-2) pitched a complete game and was charged with eight runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits.
Game Three: Arkansas Tech 8, Emporia State 7
Arkansas Tech held off a comeback bid by Emporia State and slipped past the Hornets 8-7 on Saturday.
The Golden Suns jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings. Emporia State chipped away and entered the seventh and final inning trailing 8-5.
Marly Carmona singled and Jacie Stephens doubled to begin the top of the seventh for the Hornets. Morgan Swisher followed with a single that allowed both of them to score, cut Tech’s lead to 8-7 and put the tying run on base.
Vaughan, pitching in a relief role for Arkansas Tech, was able to stem the tide and preserve a one-run victory for the Golden Suns by inducing three consecutive ground outs to end the game.
Tech’s Crumpley went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Gum clubbed a two-run home run for the Suns.
Edinger and Samantha Herweck had two hits apiece for Arkansas Tech. Herweck drove in a run.
Clark (1-1) started in the circle for the Golden Suns and pitched four innings to collect the win.
Emporia State starting pitcher Holly Hinkel (1-2) allowed eight runs, five of which were earned, on 12 hits over six innings.
Game Four: Arkansas Tech 7, Fort Hays State 5
Herweck was 2-for-3 with four runs batted in to lead Arkansas Tech to a 7-5 win over Fort Hays State in the Golden Suns’ final game at the classic.
Gum added two RBIs and Hill drove in one run for the Golden Suns.
Tech relief pitcher Megan Goodnight (1-0) was credited with the win. She allowed three runs on three hits over two and two-thirds innings.
Bailey Shaffer recorded the final two outs for the Golden Suns and was credited with her first save of 2016.
Fort Hays State starting pitcher Carrie Clarke (0-2) allowed seven runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits. She walked six batters in six innings.
