GOLDEN SUNS SWEEP ROAD GSC DOUBLEHEADER AT DELTA STATE

        CLEVELAND, Mississippi – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Softball returned to Gulf South Conference action here Sunday evening by sweeping both ends of a doubleheader to Delta State at University Field.

The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday but moved to Sunday due to severe weather in the Cleveland area. The teams will conclude the GSC series on Monday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Tech opened the evening with a 3-2 win (Box Score) in the first game and then picked up a 5-0 win (Box Score) in the nightcap.

With the two wins, Tech improves to 33-19 overall on the season and 14-8 in the GSC, while DSU falls to 25-19 overall and 13-11 in the league.

In the first game, the Lady Statesmen jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a walk and an RBI double by Courtney Clark.

Tech tied the game in the fourth inning thanks to back-to-back doubles from sophomore second baseman Shanda Jimeson (Mansfield, Texas) and sophomore first baseman Tiphani Moon (Euless, Texas) and then took the lead in the fifth inning thanks to a single by freshman shortstop Stephanie Lasley (Greenbrier, Ark.), two stolen bases and a throwing error by DSU pitcher Edie Oliver.

The Golden Suns extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth frame thanks to two singles, a DSU error and a sacrifice fly by junior pitcher Casey Hammons (Carthage, Texas).

          DSU scored a run in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Kristi Basso, before Hammons ended the Lady Statesmen threat by forcing Emily Hearn to fly out and Callie Weaver to strike out.

          Hammons, who retired 18 of the final 22 batters she faced after allowing Clark’s double in the first inning, earned the win as she tossed her 14th complete game of the season to improve to 15-6. In the win, Hammons allowed three hits and two runs, while walking one and fanning five.

          Oliver (17-9) took the loss as she tossed seven innings and allowed five hits and three runs (one earned run), while striking out four and walking none.

          Moon led Tech’s five-hit attack with two base hits, while Jimeson, Lasley and junior catcher Roxie Palacios (Crosby, Texas) each had a hit in the win. Clark, Basso and Brooke Allgood recorded DSU’s hits.

          In the nightcap, Tech jumped in front 2-0 in the second inning thanks to an RBI triple by Lasley and a wild pitch by DSU pitcher Kate Moreland. Lasley’s triple plated junior third baseman Taylor Gates (Paris, Texas), who had reached on an error by DSU second baseman Chelsea Carr.

          The two runs would be enough for freshman Morgan Rodgers (Mansfield, Texas), who improved to 13-10 on the season, as she tossed a six-hit complete game shutout. The complete game was her 11th of the season and the shutout was her team-high tying four of the year. For the game, Rodgers struck out five and walked none.

          Tech added to its lead in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI on a sacrifice bunt by Jimeson and a two-run single by Hammons. Hammons’ single scored Jimeson and senior rightfielder Sarah Pratt (Garland, Texas), who had reached on a single.

          Moreland (4-5) took the loss for the Lady Statesmen as she tossed a complete game and allowed eight hits and five runs, while striking out four and walking none. Four of Tech’s five runs were unearned thanks to two DSU errors.

          Pratt, Jimeson and Lasley each had two hits in the win, while Hammons drove in two runs. Brittany Tillery and Clark each had two hits in the loss.

-- Tech Athletics --