SOFTBALL COLLECTS HOME DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OVER
OUACHITA BAPTIST

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Softball returned home to the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex here Saturday and picked up a doubleheader sweep over Ouachita Baptist in Gulf South Conference action.

The two wins came less than 24 hours after the Lady Tigers split a doubleheader against the Golden Suns in Arkadelphia, Ark., on Friday.

In Saturday’s action, Tech opened with a 2-1 win (Box Score) and then followed with a 1-0 victory (Box Score) to improve to 24-6 overall on the season and 9-1 in the GSC. The 24 wins are three short of the school record 27 victories set by the 2005 squad.

One day after collecting just 11 hits and one run in the doubleheader split over the Lady Tigers, Tech’s offense exploded for 15 hits, but scored just three runs and left 17 runners on base.

In the first game, OBU, who fell to 12-19 overall and 2-6 in the GSC, jumped on the scoreboard first in the second inning thanks to a double, a bunt and an RBI groundout off of senior hurler Dana Aldrich (Palm Harbor, Fla.).

Tech took the lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks a wild pitch by Crystal Robinson and a run-scoring triple by sophomore catcher Roxanna Palacios (Crosby, Texas).

From that point, Aldrich (11-4) made the one-run lead hold up as she pitched a complete game four-hitter. She allowed just one run, while striking out seven and walking two. After allowing the run in the second, Aldrich allowed just three base runners over the final four innings of the game.

Palacios and senior leftfielder Terra Brenner (Belleville, Ill.) each had two hits in the game as the Golden Suns finished with eight hits and stole two bases, which were both by Brenner.

Robinson took the loss as she tossed three innings and allowed six hits and two runs, while striking out one. Sara Hanson pitched the final three innings and allowed just two hits and no runs, while striking out five and walking one.

In the second game, both teams were engaged in a pitcher’s duel for the third time in the four-game series.

Tech scored the game’s lone run in the second inning thanks to a single by sophomore pitcher Casey Hammons (Carthage, Texas) and an RBI double by freshman designated player Quinn Culver (Fort Smith, Ark.).

Culver’s RBI double would be held up thanks to solid pitching of Hammons, who improved to 12-2 on the season, as she tossed a complete game four-hit shutout. In addition, she recorded three strikeouts and walked none.

While Hammons’ pitching was solid, so too, was OBU’s Beth McGhee’s, who took the loss after allowing just seven hits and one run in six innings of work. In addition, she had five strikeouts and walked three in the loss to fall to 4-3 on the season.

 For the game, Tech recorded seven hits, including two from Culver, but left 10 runners on base and had two stolen bases.

 Tech will return to action on Wednesday, March 26, when they play a doubleheader against West Florida at the Florida Spring Fling Tournament in Pensacola. The UWF doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. On Thursday, Tech will close the tournament with a doubleheader against Wisconsin-Oshkosh beginning at 9 a.m.
 
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