SEARCY – The Harding softball team swept Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference action on Friday winning the first game 4-1 and came from behind to win the second game 3-2. Amber Rollins broke the GAC strikeout record in game one with 14.

Harding improves to 17-14 overall and 9-9 in the GAC. The Cotton Blossoms fall to 18-13 overall and 9-9 in GAC action.

Game One

Harding jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Brookelynn Moon tripled to score Kinsey Beck and Kimmy Hendricks drove in Moon. The Lady Bisons added another run in the fourth when Amanda Berdon hit a ground ball to the shortstop that drove in Heidi Abston. Harding scored its final run in the fifth when Brooklynn Moon stole home when Kimmy Hendricks was caught stealing second.

Arkansas-Monticello's only run came in the top of the seventh inning when Taylor Norris scored on a passed ball.

Amber Rollins (9-6) got the win for Harding. Rollins threw all seven innings. She gave up five hits and struck out a GAC record 14 batters which bested her season high of 11. Rollins struck out two in the first, three in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Courtney Wilson (10-5) got the loss for the Cotton Blossoms.

Arkansas-Monticello left 10 runners on base.

Game Two

Arkansas-Monticello had a 2-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning when Brookelynn Moon hit a home run to left center field for Harding. The Lady Bisons took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Moon and Kimmy Hendricks hit back-to-back homeruns to left field.  It was Moon's first multi-homer game. She leads the team with five. It was Hendricks third homerun of the season.

Amber Rollins came in and relieved Harding starter Danielle Hubbard in the top of the seventh.  Rollins struck out the first batter but gave up back-to-back singles to put runners on for the Cotton Blossoms. Rollins struck out Kali Piha for the second out then threw a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with two outs. Rollins struck out Brittany Eitel to get the save and to give Harding the win.

Danielle Hubbard (7-7) got the win for Harding, pitching six innings and gave up six hits. She also walked four and struck out four. Rollins got her first save of the season for the Lady Bisons. Katie Slaughter (8-7) got the loss for Arkansas-Monticello.

The two teams will wrap up their series on Saturday in a doubleheader that starts at 12 p.m.