WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Softball welcomed Arkansas Tech to Weatherford on Thursday for games one and two of the conference series, with the Golden Suns taking both ends of the doubleheader by scores of 6-0 and 4-3.
 
Both games were close, despite game one's final look. Tech scored the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning of both contests.
 
The series will conclude tomorrow at noon with the third and final game.
 
GAME ONE – ATU 6, SWOSU 0
 
Alisa Friesen started in the circle for the Bulldogs and threw four scoreless innings before Tech finally was able to break through with back-to-back RBI hits followed by a sacrifice fly.
 
Now 4-0, Tech added runs in the sixth and seventh to seal it.
 
Arkansas Tech used two pitchers in the game, both pitching scoreless frames the entire way. Despite this, SWOSU had their chances. The Bulldogs had a runner on base in every inning in the game but could not deliver the timely offense to plate any runs.
 
Friesen pitched the entire way and struck out four. The bottom half of the batting order all notched hits, alongside Maddie Rahon who finished 1-4 in the two-hole.  
 
GAME TWO – ATU 4, SWOSU 3
 
The Dawgs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Dani Carmo RBI single that scored Rahon who also singled two batters prior.
 
In the circle, Brianna Cryer held that lead until the fifth when Tech delivered a pair of two-out extra-base hits that gave them the lead.
 
A double down the right field line put the score at 2-1 and was immediately followed by a home run to left center that made it 4-1.
 
SWOSU did not go down quietly though from there. In the home half of the fifth, they answered to get within one run again on the backs of Carmo and Rahon who both delivered RBI knocks. Jewell Lee sparked the inning with a triple to left field and shortly thereafter was driven in thanks to Rahon.
 
Now 4-3, Kaylee Barkley hit a ground ball to the pitcher that was struggled to be fielded cleanly. In a bang-bang play at first base, Barkley was called out – preventing Carmo, the tying run at third base, to score.
 
Barkley, in relief of Cryer in the circle, closed out the game's final 2.2 innings without allowing a run. But the Tech closer was able to hold the offense in check the rest of the way and earn the save.
 
Lee, Rahon, and Carmo all finished 2-4 in the game.