Nationally fifth-ranked Arkansas Tech University topped off a four-game softball series sweep of Southern Nazarene University by taking two games from the Crimson Storm at Bethany, Okla., on Saturday.
The Golden Suns (20-1 overall, 12-0 Great American Conference) will host Oklahoma Baptist University for a four-game GAC series at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12.
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. Admission will be free.
Game One: Arkansas Tech 5, SNU 0
Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Jalissa Gum pitched a two-hit shutout and the Golden Suns rapped out five extra-base hits in a 5-0 victory over Southern Nazarene in Saturday’s opener.
Gum (6-0) struck out eight and walked just two over seven innings of work.
Ashley Anderson opened the scoring with an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
Arkansas Tech broke it open with three runs in the sixth. Kambri Hill knocked in two runs with a double and Alex Edinger lifted a sacrifice fly to increase the margin to 4-0.
Ashley Savage tacked on a solo home run in the top of the seventh.
Crimson Storm starting pitcher Kayla Wyatt (4-5) allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings.
Game Two: Arkansas Tech 7, SNU 2
Arkansas Tech overcame an early deficit to finish the sweep with a 7-2 win over Southern Nazarene on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Storm led 2-1 after four innings. The first two Arkansas Tech hitters in the top of the fifth were retired, but Edinger sparked a two-out rally with a single.
Gaby Vasquez followed with a triple that sent Edinger home with the tying run. Vasquez gave the Golden Suns the lead for good at 3-2 when she scored on a Gum single.
Vasquez and Sarah Coronado both had RBI singles in the top of the seventh and Savage added a two-run single to set the final margin.
Tech reliever Kelsie Barker (3-0) worked one and one-third innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Morgan Vaughan pitched the final three innings for her second save of 2016.
SNU starting pitcher Katelyn Brown (3-6) was charged with seven runs, six of which were earned, on 12 hits over six and one-third innings.
