[March 12, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The early going in Gulf South Conference play has proven rough for Southern Arkansas as they dropped their third and fourth straight league games by 3-2 and 9-1 margins to Arkansas Tech Wednesday at Chartwells Complex.

Wednesday’s opener was hard to swallow as the Lady Muleriders allowed the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on an infield error. Knotted at 2-2 heading into the bottom half of the final frame, the Golden Suns got a leadoff single from Shanda Jimeson, who was spelled by pinch-runner Kacie Visnia. Following another single, this one from Sarah Pratt, the runners advanced to second and third on a double steal. SAU then got Molly Schweigert on an infield bunt line-out, but a throwing error let the final run cross the plate.

Southern Arkansas (5-11, 0-4 GSC) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, plating solo runs in the first two innings. After second baseman JoAnna Jones (Needville, Texas) led off the game with a triple, shortstop Alex Tordiglione’s (Aledo, Texas) single plated her immediately. In the second, catcher Tancy Matthews (Diana, Texas) drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on centerfielder Samantha Mauer’s (Mansfield, Texas) sac bunt, and then scored on right-fielder Sarah Holub’s (Sealey, Texas) single.

But ATU (19-5, 4-0 GSC) tied it up in the fourth on Taylor Gates’ two-run homer to left field, setting up the final inning.

Tech got their three runs on eight hits, made one error, and left seven on. The Lady Muleriders finished with four hits, committed two errors, and stranded three.

Dana Aldrich (9-3) went the distance in picking up the win. Both runs were earned and she walked one and fanned six.

Cheyenne Savony (Kilgore, Texas) took the hard-luck loss for SAU to fall to 3-4, credited with 6 1/3 innings. Only two of the three runs were earned, she walked two and struck out one.

No Southern Arkansas player had more than one hit in the game. Pratt, Gates, and Terra Brenner each finished with two hits for the Golden Suns.

ATU ended the second game by scoring two runs in the sixth for the eight-run rule. They pounded out 12 hits for their nine runs, had one error, and left five on base. The Lady Muleriders got their one on four hits, played error-free, and also stranded five.

Arkansas Tech led 6-0 after three innings before SAU plated their lone run in the fourth when Matthews tripled to drive in Savony. Matthews had two of Southern Arkansas’ four hits.

Schweigert and Jessica Fields each had triples for the Golden Suns.

Casey Hammons (9-2) went six innings in the circle for the win. Her run was earned and she walked one and fanned five.

Holub (0-3) started and threw three innings in being tagged with the loss. She allowed seven hits, six earned runs, and one walk. Nicole Nicholas (Fouke) tossed the final 2 2/3 innings.

The Lady Muleriders try to return the favor Saturday when ATU comes to Magnolia for a noon doubleheader.