SEARCY – The Harding softball team dropped both games of a non-conference doubleheader to Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday. The Lions won 4-3 in eight innings and 6-5 in six innings. The second game was called in the top of the sixth due to darkness.
Harding falls to 22-27 overall and Texas A&M-Commerce improves to 27-23.
GAME ONE
After trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Harding scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and two in the sixth to force extra innings. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Lions scored a run in the top of the eighth inning and held the Lady Bisons scoreless to seal the win.
In the sixth, sophomore Amanda Berdon hit a single through the left side to score Madison Wickline from second. With Carolyn Clayton on third and one out, Emily Jones hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score the tying run.
In the eighth inning and a runner at second, Texas A&M-Commerce hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third with no outs. The next batter, Baylea Higgs, hit a single through the right side that scored what proved to be the game winning run.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth for Harding and no outs, the Lions got a strikeout, a fielder's choice to get the runner at home and a pop up to end the game.
Aundria Zuniga-Romero (12-7) got the win for Texas A&M-Commerce. She pitched 2 2/3 innings, gave up one hit and struck out a batter. Taylor Friend (0-3) got the loss for Harding. Friend pitched three innings and got a strikeout.
The Lady Bisons had seven hits in the game. Kinsey Beck and Carolyn Clayton each had two hits for Harding. Beck, Amanda Berdon and Emily Jones each had a RBI.
GAME TWO
Harding scored a run in the first, two in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth to lead 5-2 heading into the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Aundria Zuniga-Romero hit a grand slam to left field to give Texas A&M-Commerce a 6-5 lead. The game was called in the top of the sixth due to darkness.
The Lady Bisons had 10 hits in the game. Carolyn Clayton, Emily Jones and Jessica Greene each had two hits. Kinsey Beck and Clayton both had two RBIs and Amanda Berdon hit her sixth home run of the season in the third inning.
Cyanne Fernandez (3-4) got the win for Texas A&M-Commerce. She pitched two scoreless innings, gave up one hit and struck out three. Taylor Friend (0-4) got the loss for Harding pitching 1 1/3 innings of relief. She gave up one run and struck out three.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Commerce, Texas in a doubleheader that is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
