Nationally fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech University and Oklahoma Baptist University split a Great American Conference softball doubleheader at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville on Monday.
The Golden Suns (21-2 overall, 13-1 GAC) earned a 7-1 victory in the opener. The Lady Bison (6-13, 4-10) came back to take game two 3-0 and end Arkansas Tech’s 19-game winning streak.
The first two games of the series, scheduled for Sunday, were canceled due to inclement weather.
The Golden Suns will visit East Central University for a four-game GAC series in Ada, Okla., on Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19.
Game One: Tech 7, OBU 1
A fast start sent Arkansas Tech to a 7-1 victory over Oklahoma Baptist in game one on Monday.
The Golden Suns sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored five runs on eight hits in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-0 lead.
Jalissa Gum (7-0) pitched the first four innings for Arkansas Tech. She allowed no runs on one hit while striking out eight. Kelsie Barker and Bailey Shaffer combined to get the final nine outs for the Suns.
Tech’s Alex Edinger, Gaby Vasquez, Megan Goodnight and Kambri Hill collected two hits apiece. Janie Knowles contributed two runs batted in.
Oklahoma Baptist’s McKenzie Jones (2-6) took the loss in the circle. She surrendered seven runs on 13 hits over six innings.
Game Two: OBU 3, Tech 0
Oklahoma Baptist’s Haylee Zimmerman pitched a three-hit shutout to give the Lady Bison a 3-0 win over Arkansas Tech in Monday’s second game.
Zimmerman (1-1) needed just 68 pitches to navigate seven innings. She did not strike out a batter, but she induced 10 fly outs and nine ground outs. The two other outs were recorded on double plays.
Jill Shipman drove in two runs and Sam Barry added one RBI for the Lady Bison.
Arkansas Tech reliever Sydnee Clark (3-2) was the losing pitcher. She allowed three runs on four hits over one and two-third innings.
