WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Arkansas Tech defeated SWOSU twice on Friday, with the Dawgs dropping the opener 6-1 before battling to the final pitch in a 3-2 setback in the night cap. Following the losses, SWOSU has been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
 
SWOSU (12-37, 12-27 GAC) will conclude the 2018 season on Saturday with a doubleheader against Arkansas Tech beginning at 11:00 am. In between games, the Bulldogs lone senior – Rileigh Ricken – will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities.
 
Arkansas Tech 6, SWOSU 1
Box Score (html)
 
SWOSU had seven hits and drew two walks in the series opener, but stranded seven runners on base before getting on the board with a solo home run off the bat of Hannah Franklin in the bottom of the seventh inning. By that time, however, the damage had been done with ATU plating five runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings to break the game open.
 
Franklin and Amanda Moreno led the Dawgs with two hits apiece, while Kinsey Skroh, Samantha Householder and Jacquelyn Lovelace also recorded base hits in the game. Rileigh Ricken (5-16) tossed a complete game, allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
 
Arkansas Tech 3, SWOSU 2
Box Score (html)
 
All five combined runs were scored in the first two innings, with SWOSU getting single runs in the first and second while ATU plated three in the top of the second for the difference. The Bulldogs got an RBI single from Allyson Gafford in the first following by an RBI single courtesy of Hannah Morris in the middle of the second inning. Arkansas Tech had their answer with two RBI hits in the second along with an error by SWOSU that led to the third run.
 
The score would stay the same down to the final out as Kinsey Skroh came to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs in the seventh. Skroh faced eight pitches in the at-bat, fouling off two with a full count before ultimately striking out for the final out of the game.
 
Morris was 2-for-4 with an RBI from the leadoff position while Lovelace went 2-for-3 as well. Moreno and Franklin scored runs for the Dawgs while Gafford and Sidney Kirk also had hits in the game. Grover (5-8) pitched admirably for SWOSU, spreading eight hits over a complete-game effort with three walks and two strikeouts.