Arkansas Tech University clinched the fourth 40-win season in the history of its softball program during a doubleheader sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford, Okla., on Friday.
The Golden Suns (41-6 overall, 31-5 Great American Conference) defeated the Bulldogs 13-0 and 6-1. Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader was canceled due to inclement weather.
Tech’s previous seasons with 40 or more wins came in 2008, 2009 and 2015.
Arkansas Tech will have an opportunity to establish a new school record for softball victories in a season and clinch its first regular season conference championship in softball since 2011 when it hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a four-game GAC series at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23.
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. Admission will be free.
The Golden Suns need two wins to break the school record of 42 softball victories, which was established by the 2009 team. Arkansas Tech was Gulf South Conference West Division champion in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
If the Suns can clinch the GAC title next weekend, it would be the fourth regular season conference championship in Arkansas Tech softball history and the first for the Golden Suns in the five-year history of the Great American Conference.
Game One: Tech 13, SWOSU 0
Arkansas Tech set the tone with five runs in the top of the first inning and then cruised to a 13-0 mercy rule-shortened win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in game one on Friday.
Megan Goodnight was 2-for-3 with a home run and four runs batted in and Jalissa Gum was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Golden Suns. Chloe Clifton added a three-run home run, while Destiny Crumpley and Kambri Hill drove in one run apiece.
Gum (17-1) started in the circle and limited the Bulldogs to one hit over four innings. She notched nine strikeouts.
Morgan Vaughan pitched the fifth and final inning of the game for the Suns. She allowed two hits and struck out two.
SWOSU starting pitcher Taylor Eaves (6-10) was charged with five runs, three of which were earned, on four hits in one inning.
Game Two: Tech 6, SWOSU 1
Five Arkansas Tech hitters collected two base hits apiece in a 6-1 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State in Friday’s nightcap.
Gum, Hill, Clifton, Ashley Anderson and Alex Edinger all had two hits.
Tech starting pitcher Kelsie Barker (6-1) allowed one run on six hits in four and one-third innings. Gum struck out five over two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief for her first save of the season.
Taya Haney (6-13) was the losing pitcher. She surrendered six runs, five of which were earned, on 11 hits in five and two-thirds innings.
