Tweet #theGAC  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech won its ninth straight Great American Conference Under Armour Softball Championship game as the Golden Suns topped Southern Arkansas, 4-1, in Saturday’s opening semifinal contest from the Tiger Athletic Complex.
 
Key situational hitting aided the Golden Suns (27-16-1) as they scored three of their four runs with two outs. In the first inning, they opened the scoring on a Caitlyn Wells single. After the Muleriders (27-8) evened the game in the top of the fourth, Arkansas Tech answered with a run-scoring single by Makenzie Goins.
 
The Golden Suns tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Tymber Riley skied a home run to right center. Three batters later, Wells singled home Abbie Cain. Wells finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and raised her average to .406.
 
Shannon Lasey earned her second win in as many days at the GAC Championships as she stuck out six in her 5.0 innings of work. Maddy Prough earned her seventh save on the season as she recorded three strikeouts during her 2.0 hitless innings inside the circle.
 
The Muleriders went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Laina Suesue, Elisa Favela and Jaxynn Dyson each recorded a pair of hits. The elimination of the Muleriders ensures that the tournament’s top seed will not win the title for the sixth time in nine renditions of the event.
 
Arkansas Tech advances to the title match for the third straight season. The Golden Suns became the second GAC program to reach three-straight finals as they joined Southeastern Oklahoma State, who made the first three title games, spanning 2012 through 2014. The Golden Suns will face Harding or Southeastern Oklahoma State.