SEARCY – The Harding softball team fell to Delta State 4-1 and 11-7 on Tuesday in non-conference. The Lady Bisons fall to 6-16 on the season.
GAME ONE
Delta State jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning and held on to defeat Harding 4-1.
A sacrifice fly and a stolen base gave the Lady Statesmen a 2-0 lead after the first. Harding got a run back in the fourth when Carolyn Clayton knocked in Kimmy Hendricks on a fielder's choice.
Harding only allowed two Delta State hits heading into the seventh inning when the Lady Statesmen scored two runs on four hits.
The Lady Bisons tried to rally but hit into two fielder's choices in the bottom of the seventh.
Shayna Beaver got the win for Delta State improving her record to 5-2 on the season. Brooke Watts got the save, pitching three hitless innings and striking out three. Amber Rollins got the loss for Harding. Rollins pitched the complete game and struck out seven batters.
Mackenzie Jones was the only Harding player with multiple hits in the game. She went 2-for-3 as the designated player.
GAME TWO
Delta State (12-10) scored four runs in the first and six runs in the second and went on to win 11-7.
The Lady Statemen had four runs on six hits in the first inning led by Kory Watterson's two-run homer to left field.
Harding answered back scoring four runs in the bottom of the first on three hits. Kimmy Hendricks doubled to left field that scored two runs and then Mackenzie Jones hit a two-run homer to right field. It was Jones' first home run of the season.
Delta State scored six runs on five hits in the second inning and left three runners on base.
The Lady Bisons got two runs back in the sixth inning when Kinsey Beck homered to left center field. It was her first of the season.
Harding tried to rally when Carolyn Clayton singled up the middle to score Hendricks from second with one out. Delta State got out of the inning on a ground double play.
Taylor Johnson got the win for Delta State to improve her record to 5-1 on the season. She relieved starting pitcher Katie Justice in the first inning. Johnson pitched seven innings, gave up eight hits and three runs. Danielle Hubbard got the loss for Harding pitching six innings and struck out three.
Harding will continue Great American Conference action this weekend when they travel to Arkansas-Monticello. First pitch in the four-game series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
