Suns Match Longest Winning Streak Ever

Gulf South Conference East Division teams have traditionally dominated the GSC Softball Crossover. It appears that the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns are not particularly interested in that tradition.

Arkansas Tech (23-11 overall, 14-1 GSC) improved to 3-0 at the 2011 GSC Softball Crossover by defeating the West Florida Argonauts 6-2 in Decatur, Ala., on Friday afternoon.

The victory extended the Golden Suns’ winning streak to 11 consecutive games. It matches the longest winning streak in Arkansas Tech softball history, a record that was established by the 2009 Golden Suns when they won 11 straight games from April 14, 2009, through April 26, 2009.

The Golden Suns and the Argonauts were tied 1-1 after three innings, but Hayley Hudson gave Arkansas Tech the lead for good when she scored on a Molly Edwards RBI single in the top of the fourth.

Arkansas Tech increased its advantage to 6-1 by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth. Jessica Fields walked, Alicia Zack singled and Shelby Jo Fenter walked to start the inning and set the table for Shanda Jimeson.

The senior from Mansfield, Texas, delivered a two-run single. Hudson followed with an RBI single and Jimeson scored later in the inning on a ground ball hit by Tiphani Moon.

West Florida got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Tiffany Duncan put down a lead-off bunt and came all the way around to score on a pair of Arkansas Tech errors.

Duncan’s run cut the Suns’ lead to 6-2, but the Arkansas Tech pitching combination of Alex Doyle and Morgan Rodgers shut it down from there.

Doyle (9-6) pitched two innings of relief to earn her second win of the day. She allowed one unearned run to the Argos but did not surrender a hit.

Rodgers came on to get the final six outs for the Golden Suns, who maintained their hold on first place in the GSC West Division.

Amy Horne started in the circle for Tech. She pitched three innings and allowed one run on two hits.

Earlier on Friday, Arkansas Tech defeated West Georgia 10-3.

Click here to read about that win.

The Golden Suns will face an extraordinary challenge during day three of the GSC Softball Crossover on Saturday, April 9.

Arkansas Tech will take on nationally top-ranked Alabama-Huntsville at noon Saturday. The Suns will then turn around and tangle with nationally fourth-ranked Valdosta State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Click here to follow the action from the GSC Softball Crossover courtesy of the University of Alabama in Huntsville Sports Information Department.

]]>