SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO

        MONTICELLO, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Softball continued its nine-game road swing here Wednesday by splitting a Gulf South Conference doubleheader against Arkansas-Monticello at Blossom Field.

Tech opened the doubleheader by posting a 5-2 win (Box Score) before UAM used a three-run seventh inning spearheaded by a Tech error to post a 3-2 win (Box Score) and salvage the split.

With the split, Tech’s record moves to 34-13 overall and 16-7 in the GSC, while UAM moves to 18-25 overall and 11-10 in the GSC.

In the first game, Tech opened the scoring in the first inning thanks an RBI sacrifice bunt by sophomore catcher Roxie Palacios (Crosby, Texas) and a run scoring single by freshman first baseman Tiphani Moon (Euless, Texas) off of UAM starter, Becca Sustaire.

The Cotton Blossoms, though, pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning thanks to solo homer by Lindsey Randall off of senior hurler Dana Aldrich (Palm Harbor, Fla.), this week’s GSC West Division Pitcher of the Week.

Tech’s lead grew to 4-1 in the sixth inning thanks to a two-run single by freshman third baseman Quinn Culver (Fort Smith, Ark.). Culver’s single allowed sophomore Casey Hammons (Carthage, Texas) and junior Kacie Visnia (Rowlett, Texas), who was pinch running for Palacios.

UAM added its second run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two hits and an error by junior centerfielder Krista Cifuentes (Clinton, Ark.).

The Golden Suns closed the game’s scoring in the top of the seventh thanks to a lead-off triple by junior rightfielder Sarah Pratt (Garland, Texas) and an RBI single by Palacios.

Aldrich, who improved to 20-7 on the season with the win, tossed seven innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run, while walking two and striking out 11.

Tech’s offense collected 12 hits, including two hits apiece by Culver, Palacios, Pratt and senior leftfielder Terra Brenner (Belleville, Ill.), while Palacios and Culver drove in two runs each. In addition, senior shortstop Molly Schweigert (Salem, Ore.) extended her hitting streak to 18 consecutive games.

Sustaire (9-13) earned the loss as she pitched seven innings and allowed 12 hits and five runs, while walking one and striking out two.

Randall collected two of UAM’s four hits and scored both of her team’s runs.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, the Golden Suns scored two unearned runs in the first inning thanks to one hit and two UAM errors.

From that point, the game became a pitcher’s duel between UAM’s Kate Brady and Hammons.

Brady (9-9 on the season) allowed just six hits and no runs over the final six innings of the game to keep her team in the game. Hammons, on the hand, was just as effective as she allowed just three hits through the first six innings.

In the seventh, Hammons, who fell to 13-6 with the loss, was done in by an error by Culver, which allowed two unearned runs to score and then the Cotton Blossoms earned the win on an RBI double by Randall, which allowed Meredith Heckel to score the winning run. Heckel had reached on a Culver’s two-out error. Randall had two of UAM’s five hits in the game.  

For the game, Hammons pitched 6.2 innings and allowed just five hits and three unearned runs, while walking one and striking seven. Brady finished the game with one walk and two strikeouts.

Pratt led Tech’s offense with two of their seven hits, while five other Golden Suns collected a hit, including Schweigert, who extended her hitting streak to 19 straight games, which is the fifth-best mark in GSC history.

For the game, both teams combined to commit five errors, as UAM had three errors and Tech added two defensive miscues.

Tech will return to action on Saturday, April 19, when they host Arkansas-Monticello in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex.

-- Tech Athletics --