BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team defeated Northeastern State 4-3 and Truman State 7-2 in non-conference action in the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic on Saturday. The Lady Bisons won every game of classic after picking up two wins on Friday.
 
Harding moves to 7-3 on the season.

Northeastern State falls to 5-3 and Truman State falls to 2-2.
 
Game One Key Innings (Harding 4, Northeastern 3)

• After two scoreless innings, Harding got on the board in the bottom of the third scoring two runs on two hits. Mackenzie Jones singled both of the Lady Bisons runs.
• Harding tacked on another run in fourth on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Acosta.
• Northeastern State answered back scoring two runs in the fifth on a two run home run by Kaleigh Hinkle.
• Harding scored its final run in the fifth when Mackenzie Jones hit into a fielder's choice that scored Peyton Mills.
• The RiverHawks got its final run in the sixth on a home run by Kyla Ibarra.

 
Game One Key Statistics

• Harding had eight hits in the game led by Kinsey Beck and Brookelynn Moon who each had two.
• Mackenzie Jones had three RBIs to lead the Lady Bisons
• Northeastern State had eight hits led by Madison Boyd who had two.
• Harding starter Hannah Johnson got win to improve her record to 3-0 on the season. She pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up five hits and two earned runs and struck out five.
• Kristen Dempsey relieved Johnson and pitched 1 1/3 innings and Kelly Beth Ernest got her second save of the season pitching the final 1 1/3 innings. She gave up two hits and struck out two.
• Delaney Gray received the loss for Northeastern State. She pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up eight hits and four earned runs.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 7, Truman State 2)

• Truman State got on the board first in the top of the first on an RBI single by Jamie Fowle.
• Truman State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third scoring a run on two hits.
• Harding got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Kimmy Hendricks was walked with the bases loaded.
• The Lady Bisons took a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits and two errors. Alexus Lawellin and Kinsey Beck each singled in two runs.
• Harding tacked on another run in the fifth when Alexus Lawellin drove in Morgan Acosta.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

• Harding had eight hits in the game led by Morgan Acosta who went 3-for-3.
• Brookelynn Moon hit her second home run of the season in the fourth inning.
• Alexus Lawellin had a career-high of three RBIs in the game.
• Kelly Beth Ernest got the win for Harding after relieving Harding starter Ashley Smith. Ernest pitched four scoreless innings, only giving up one hit and stricking out four.
• Kindra Henze got the loss for Truman State. Henze started the game and went 3 2/3 innings. She gave up six hits and six runs, three of them earned.

Up Next

• Harding was supposed to wrap up the classic on Sunday but due to weather the games against Pittsburg State and Drury have been canceled. The Lady Bisons will open Great American Conference action on Friday when it travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to face Henderson State in a four-game series. First pitch on Friday is at 3 p.m.