ATU rallies past SAU in NCAA Tournament opener

ATU Athletics 
Paul Smith, Associate Athletic Director

EDMOND, Okla. – The tandem of Kristen Dempsey and Bailey Shaffer combined to hold No. 17 Southern Arkansas to five hits, while timely hitting by the Arkansas Tech offense led the way as the No. 12 Golden Suns (45-12) topped SAU (45-12) 4-3 in the opening round of the Central Region 1 Championship on Thursday at Broncho Stadium.

NEXT UP

  • The Golden Suns play the Central Oklahoma/Minnesota Duluth winner in a winners’ bracket game at noon on Friday, May 10.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS LINEUP

  1. Laina Suesue (C)
  2. Sarah Evans (SS)
  3. Faith Otts (3B)
  4. Elisa Favela (DP)
  5. Chelsea Fagan (1B)
  6. Savannah Martinez (LF)
  7. Rachel Miller (CF)
  8. Sarah Pitre (2B)
  9. Hallie Saintignan (RF)
    Victoria Taylor (P)

ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP

  1. Gaby Vasquez (RF)
  2. Sydnie Henson (LF)
  3. Megan Goodnight (1B)
  4. Tymber Riley (DP)
  5. Ashton Sangster (CF)
  6. Sarah Coronado (SS)
  7. Paty Loredo (3B)
  8. Makenzie Addis (C)
  9. Bailey Bunch (2B)
    Kristen Dempsey (P)

SCORING PLAYS

  • SAU 2nd– L. Suesue homered to right field, 3 RBI; S. Pitre scored; S. Martinez scored. (SAU 3, Tech 0)
  • Tech 3rdT. Riley singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; M. Goodnight advanced to third; G. Vasquez scored. (SAU 3, Tech 1)
  • Tech 3rdA. Sangster singled to second base, RBI; T. Riley advanced to third; M. Goodnight scored. (SAU 3, Tech 2)
  • Tech 3rdS. Coronado reached on a fielding error by cf; A. Sangster scored, unearned; T. Riley scored, unearned. (Tech 4, SAU 3)

NOTABLES

  • Goodnight was 2-for-2 in the win.
  • Dempsey picked up her 15thwin of the season after scattering four hits in four innings, allowing three earned runs, walking one and fanning two.
  • Bailey Shaffer notched her sixth save of the year after allowing one walk and one hit in three scoreless innings. The senior fanned three.
  • Seniors Gaby Vasquez, Sydnie Henson, Bailey Shaffer, and Sarah Coronado received their bachelor’s degrees in a pre-game on-field ceremony.

OF RECORD

  • Winning Pitcher: Kristen Dempsey (15-3)
  • Losing Pitcher: Victoria Taylor (11-5)
  • Save: Bailey Shaffer (6)

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