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GOLDEN SUNS WINS TWO MORE GAMES AT DELTA STATE, SWEEPS
SEASON SERIES FOR FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
CLEVELAND,
Mississippi –
Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Softball moved into a first
place tie in the Gulf South Conference West Division
standings here Monday after sweeping both ends of a
doubleheader against Delta State at University Field.
Tech opened the doubleheader with a 5-0 victory (Box
Score) and then posted a 2-1 win (Box
Score) in eight innings in the nightcap to sweep
the season series from the Lady Statesmen for the first
time in school history.
With its two wins and Arkansas-Monticello’s split Monday
at Ouachita Baptist, the Golden Suns (35-19 on the
season) moved into first place tie in the GSC West
Division standings with a 16-8 mark, while UAM is 12-8
in the West Division standings.
In the first game, Tech jumped on the board in the first
inning thanks to a lead-off triple from senior
rightfielder Sarah Pratt (Garland, Texas) and a
squeeze bunt by sophomore first baseman Tiphani Moon
(Euless, Texas).
Tech’s lead grew to 5-0 in the fifth inning thanks to
five hits and two DSU errors. In the inning, Pratt drove
in the first run on her infield single and then
sophomore second baseman Shanda Jimeson
(Mansfield, Texas) followed with an RBI single. After
Jimeson’s single, Moon followed with an RBI single up
the middle and the final Tech run was scored after a
throwing error by DSU catcher Kristi Basso.
The five run cushion would be enough for junior hurler
Casey Hammons (Carthage, Texas) to throw her 15th
complete game and fifth shutout of the season. In seven
innings, Hammons (16-6) allowed five hits, while walking
two and striking out seven. The shutout was Tech’s
second consecutive in the series as freshman Morgan
Rodgers (Mansfield, Texas) threw one in Sunday’s
second game of the series.
Pratt, Moon and junior catcher Roxie Palacios
(Crosby, Texas) each had two hits, while Pratt scored
two runs in the win. The Golden Suns finished with 10
hits for the game.
Edie Oliver (17-10) took the loss as she tossed five
innings and allowed eight hits and five runs (four
earned runs), while striking out two and walking none.
Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Tech took a 1-0 lead in the
fifth inning thanks to two errors, a stolen base and a
walk by DSU hurler Kate Moreland. The Lady Statesmen’s
second error by Courtney Clark allowed senior
leftfielder Kacie Visina (Rowlett, Texas) to
score from second after reaching on a walk and stealing
second base.
In the bottom of the fifth, DSU broke an 18 inning
scoreless streak in the series as they used a three hits
and an error by the Golden Suns to plate a run to tie
the game.
The game would remain tied until the top of the eighth
inning when Pratt scored an unearned run when DSU second
baseman Courtney Chism committed an error on a play by
Palacios.
Rodgers (14-10) earned the win as she tossed
5.2 innings and allowed two hits and one unearned run,
while walking none and striking out one. Hammons pitched
2.1 innings and allowed four hits and no runs, while
striking out three.
Moreland (4-6) took the loss as she tossed
eight innings and allowed six hits and two unearned
runs, while walking one and striking out none.
For the game, both teams collected six hits,
but DSU committed three errors, while Tech had one
error.
Pratt and junior third baseman Taylor Gates
(Paris, Texas) each had two hits in the victory. Basso
and Chelsea Carr each had two hits in the loss.
Tech will return to action on Thursday, April
23, when they close out the home portion of its schedule
with a doubleheader against Central Baptist beginning at
2 p.m. at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex. The
game will mark Senior Day for Tech’s three-member senior
class – Visina, Pratt and centerfielder Krista
Cifuentes (Clinton, Ark.).
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