Arkansas Tech’s pitching staff posted consecutive shutouts on Sunday to help the Golden Suns complete a four-game series sweep of the Henderson State Lady Reddies in Gulf South Conference softball at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville.
The Golden Suns (20-11 overall, 11-1 GSC) topped Henderson State (15-22, 9-7) by scores of 3-0 and 6-0 on Sunday as Arkansas Tech maintained sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division softball standings.
Arkansas Tech started the series on Saturday by defeating the Lady Reddies 2-0 and 5-4.
The story of game one for a second consecutive day was Tech starting pitcher Shelby Jo Fenter. Just like she did on Saturday, Fenter tossed a three-hit shutout at Henderson State on Sunday.
She struck out nine on Sunday, giving her 20 strike outs in 14 innings against the Lady Reddies this weekend. Fenter retired 13 consecutive Henderson State hitters at one point between the second and sixth innings on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Golden Suns took advantage of two Henderson State errors to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning.
Jessica Fields scored on an error and Alicia Zack came home on a sacrifice fly by Shanda Jimeson to give Arkansas Tech a 2-0 edge.
Amy Kilpatrick (photographed) doubled and scored on Molly Edwards’ sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the fourth to set what proved to be the final score.
Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Chelsea Evanoff followed Fenter’s lead in the nightcap. Evanoff, who pitched a no-hitter against Henderson State in 2010, did not surrender a hit to the Lady Reddies until the fourth inning in game two on Sunday.
Evanoff pitched six shutout innings and allowed just four hits before giving way to Amy Horne, who recorded the final three outs for the Suns.
Arkansas Tech took control of the game early with an RBI double by Hayley Hudson and an RBI single by Tiphani Moon in the top of the first inning.
Jaclyn Blake kept it going for the Suns by starting the second inning with a double. Alicia Zack knocked her in with an RBI double of her own, and Fenter brought Zack around to score with an RBI single.
Fenter increased Tech’s lead to 5-0 by stealing third base and going home on a throwing error by Henderson State.
Kilpatrick capped the day’s scoring when she stole home in the third inning.
The Golden Suns will return to action when they compete in the GSC Crossover at Decatur, Ala., starting on Thursday, April 7. Arkansas Tech is scheduled to play seven games in the event over a span of four days.
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