BENTONVILLE, Arkansas - The opening day of the 2026 Great American Conference Softball Championships saw the the four seeds - Arkansas Tech, Southern Arkansas, Oklahoma Baptist and Harding - all advance for the second-straight season, highlighted by a no-hitter from GAC Pitcher of the Year Emma Duncan of SAU.
Quarterfinal #4 #3 Oklahoma Baptist 6, #6 Southeastern Oklahoma State 1 || Box Score || Photo Gallery ||
Senior pitcher Jaycee Shaffer turned in an outstanding effort on Thursday night, aiding Oklahoma Baptist (41-13) to a 6-1 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament.
In the circle, Shaffer delivered a complete-game performance, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven. She faced minimal trouble throughout, limiting SE to just one extra-base hit.
The Bison wasted no time taking control, plating three runs in the first frame behind RBI hits from Kaley Cook, Nichelle Marshall and Kaylee Davis. They added single runs in each of the next three frames, building a 6-0 advantage through four innings.
Greenlee Wells sparked the offense from the top of the lineup, going 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI, while Marshall added a pair of hits. Alexah Reyes also contributed with a hit, two runs scored, and two stolen bases as OBU finished with eight hits and drew six walks.
Full Oklahoma Baptist Recap
Southeastern Oklahoma State Recap
Quarterfinal #3 - #2 Southern Arkansas 8, #7 Henderson State 0 (5) || Box Score || Photo Gallery ||
Southern Arkansas shut down the seventh-seeded Henderson State Reddies with an 8-0 run-rule triumph to begin their run in the bracket. GAC Pitcher of the Year Emma Duncan spun her second no-hitter of the campaign, which is the 24th in the program's history.
In her 19th complete game of the season, Duncan pitched all five innings while allowing just two walks, no runs, and of course no hits. With Emma earning the win, the Canadian claimed her 26th win of the season, now at 26-3.
The Muleriders blew the game wide open in the bottom of the third, as Peyton Raley recorded a one-out single through the right side, and was soon advanced to third after singles by both Maddie Leal and Sophia Luetticke to load the bases. After a second out, Regan Dillon singled to center field to score scratch across the first two runs for SAU, with Raley and Leal reaching the plate, 2-0. Then came Paris Endris, who singled to left field to bat in Luetticke and advance Dillon to second, 3-0. After Briana Jones came in to pinch run for Dillon, Brooklyn Reed made up for hitting into a double play in the bottom of the second with a deep double to left field to push across Jones and Endris to cap off the rally, 5-0.
Full Southern Arkansas Recap
Henderson State Recap
Quarterfinal #2 - #1 Arkansas Tech 4, #8 Ouachita Baptist 1 || Box Score || Photo Gallery ||
Top-seeded Arkansas Tech softball team won their opening round game of the 2026 Great American Conference Tournament, beating No. 8-seed Ouachita Baptist, 4-1.
Against Ouachita, the Golden Suns jumped on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first on a RBI double from Aly White. Earlier in the inning, Anna Winkfield got things going with a leadoff single to right field. She then stole second and was sacrificed over to third by Aubree Jones just before the double from White.
In the bottom of the third, Tech regained the lead as Abby Lowery drove in Jones, who had previously tripled to start the frame. An inning later, the Golden Suns tacked on two more runs on a two-run double by White.
The now three-run cushion was more than enough for Tech starter Emily Richarde as she would only allow that one run en route to a complete game in the circle. She would scatter four hits, walk three and strikeout two.
Full Arkansas Tech Recap
Ouachita Baptist Recap
Quarterfinal #1 - #4 Harding 5, #5 Southern Nazarene || Box Score ||| Photo Gallery ||
Powered by home runs from Ella Friederich and Zoey Neal, the Harding softball team opened the Great American Conference Tournament with a 5-2 victory over Southern Nazarene on Thursday morning.
Harding's offense ignited early. After Neal reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning, Friederich launched a two-run home run to center field to give the Lady Bisons a 2-0 lead.
The lead grew in the second inning when Tori Turner walked and eventually scored on a Southern Nazarene fielding error. In the third, Neal doubled and was driven home by a Turner RBI single to left, pushing the Harding advantage to 4-0.
Southern Nazarene cut into the lead in the fourth inning. Following a Harding error, Presley Brott delivered a two-out, two-run single to pull the Crimson Storm within 4-2. However, Neal answered in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left field.
Neal finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Friederich also had a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk.
Brooklyn Gobble (19-15) earned the win with a commanding complete-game performance. She allowed seven hits and just one earned run over seven innings, striking out three and walking none. Gobble threw 64 of her 88 pitches for strikes and did not allow a runner past first base in the final three innings.
Baylee Sales (10-10) took the loss for Southern Nazarene, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings of work.
Full Harding Recap
Southern Nazarene Recap