BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference wrapped up quarterfinal action of the 2019 Softball Championships as Arkansas Tech held off Southwestern Oklahoma State, 8-5, Ouachita knocked off top seed Southern Arkansas, 5-4, in eight innings and Southeastern Oklahoma State rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat rival East Central.
Quarterfinal #4 – No. 4 Southeastern Oklahoma State 3, No. 5 East Central 2
Trailing by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Savage Storm’s Hope Deanda sent her squad to the semifinals with a one-out double down the right field. She plated Ivy Amador and Karsyn Brigance. Brigance got her hand in just under the tag of Tiger catcher Breecia Crawford.
Emily Cudd worked three scoreless innings to earn the win. Paige Leschber suffered the loss. Kaytlyn Kizarr tallied three hits for the Tiger offense.
Quarterfinal #3 – No. 8 Ouachita 5, No. 1 Southern Arkansas 4 (8)
Ouachita made GAC Championship history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to beat the No. 1 seed. Leighton Withers delivered the winning blow with a home run off the left field foul pole.
The Tigers held a three-run lead for most of the contest thanks to a four-run third inning. They benefitted from a pair of SAU fielding errors in the frame. Elisa Favela drew the Lady Muleriders back to even with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Marissa Butler went the distance in the circle for the Tigers. She improved to 15-15 as she struck out nine. Victoria Taylor took the loss.
Quarterfinal #2 – No. 2 Arkansas Tech 8, No. 7 Southwestern Oklahoma State 5
Saturday’s play began with the resumption of the contest between the Golden Suns and Lady Bulldogs. The game resumed in the bottom of the third inning with the game tied, 4-4. In the fourth, Tech tacked on two runs courtesy a two-run triple by Aston Sangster.
In the sixth, SWOSU pushed across a single tally on a single by A. McAdoo. They eventually loaded the bases in the inning for Samantha Householder. She sent a sinking line drive to center field only to see Sangster make a diving catch to quell the threat.
The Golden Suns answered with two runs in their half of the sixth. GAC Freshman of the Year Tymber Riley hit a two-run home run to left.
In relief Bailey Shaffer improved to 13-4. Megan Goodnight earned her second save.