RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Softball split Friday's doubleheader to open the series against Arkansas Tech, falling 2-0 in the opener before collecting a 3-2 win in game two.
The two sides will go at it tomorrow at noon to decide the series in a decisive game three.
Game One
ATU 2, SWOSU 0
In a low scoring game, it was Arkansas Tech who was able to score runs in the third and fourth innings to earn the victory after shutting out the Bulldog offense.
Tech used a solo home run and a sacrifice fly to plate runs in the game. Both teams matched each other with five hits apiece, but it was two ATU extra-base hits in the game that pushed them to victory. The Bulldogs managed five singles on offense.
Alexis Taylor suffered the tough luck loss in 4.1 innings of work. She issued just one free pass, a hit by pitch, and struck out three.
Kaylee Barkley threw the final five outs in relief.
Five different SWOSU hitters had one hit apiece in the game.
Game Two
SWOSU 3, ATU 2
After falling behind 1-0 in the second game,
Katie Boline pushed the Dawgs on top with a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
Jadyn Hook reached on an error to start the frame, and Boline made them pay with a one-out home run to left field two batters later.
Leading 2-1,
Sierra Woods dealt damage on the basepaths in the seventh inning. Pinch running for
Kaylee Barkley who singled, Woods stole second and reached third on a throwing error from the catcher. Shortly thereafter, she scored an insurance run from a wild pitch.
That insurance run proved helpful, as Tech scored one run in their final at-bat.
Alexis Taylor, who threw the final four innings in relief, stranded the tying runner on second base to earn the win. Barkley continued throwing from game one into game two. She made it into the fourth inning before a leadoff single by Tech forced the SWOSU pitching change.
Barkley and Taylor combined to surrender seven hits and did not issue a walk. Taylor struck out five.
The offense finished with six hits to ATU's seven.
Chesnie Hewitt (2-3) had two.
Jadyn Hook doubled in the contest.
