Harding (7-3, 0-0 GAC) at Henderson State (7-3, 0-0 GAC)
Arkadelphia, Ark. • Feb. 19 - 3 p.m. (Doubleheader), Feb. 20 – 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)

HOW TO FOLLOW
Internet:
    Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Phil Berry, Harding
    at Harding: 62-61 (3rd season)
    Career: same
    vs. HSU: 1-7
Beth Jackson, Henderson State
    at HSU: 192-199 (8th season)
    Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Henderson State leads 7-1
in Arkadelphia: HSU leads 3-1
First Meeting: HSU 9-1 (4/12/14)
Last Meeting: HSU 7-1 (4/11/15)
Current Streak: HSU, 6 games

The Harding softball team will open Great American Conference play this weekend when it travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to take on Henderson State in a four-game series starting Friday at 3 p.m.

It will be the first time the teams have opened GAC play against each other. Harding is 2-0 in conference openers. The Lady Bisons defeated Southern Nazarene both times, winning 4-2 and 6-2. Harding is 1-1 in conference series openers. The Lady Bisons won the GAC series opener in 2014 but fell in 2015.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding looks to carry over its hot hitting from last weekend. In the 8-state Arkansas-Monticello classic, the Lady Bisons hit .327 with 34 runs scored and 31 RBIs. Harding hit six homeruns and had two extra base hits. Junior outfielder Brookelynn Moon hit .600 in the classic going 6-for-10 with two homeruns and five RBIs.  Junior catcher Kimmy Hendricks led Harding in RBIs with 10. She had two grand slams in the classic and had four hits and four runs scored.

Harding is hitting .336 to rank third in the GAC. Senior infielder Kinsey Beck leads the Lady Bisons, hitting .424. Beck leads the team with 14 hits and two doubles. Brookelynn Moon is right behind her hitting .414.

Kimmy Hendricks leads the GAC in RBIs with 21, eight more than second place. Hendricks is hitting .367 with 11 hits, three homeruns (all grand slams) and eight runs scored.

Junior outfielder Courtney Derrick, Harding's leadoff batter, ranks tied for second in the GAC in runs scored with 12.

Freshman outfielder Peyton Mills leads the GAC in walks drawn with 12. She has a .541 on base percentage to lead the Lady Bisons.

Harding ranks first in the GAC in stolen bases with 26. Courtney Derrick ranks tied for first with eight. Kinsey Beck and Kimmy Hendricks each rank tied for third with four.

Harding ranks seventh in the GAC with a 2.76 team ERA. Freshman Kelly Beth Ernest leads the Lady Bisons with a 1.27 ERA. Ernest has a 1-1 record in five appearances and has recorded two saves. Freshman Hannah Johnson has a 1.93 ERA and has a 3-0 record.

Series Notes:
Harding and Henderson State will be meeting for its third series.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Henderson State:
    Hits – 3, three times – last by Marley Edwards (4/13/2014)
    RBIs – 4, Courtney Derrick (4/12/2014)
    Runs – 2, four times – last by Amanda Berdon (4/10/2015)

Opponent Notes:
Henderson State heads into the series with a 7-3 overall record. The Reddies have won five of their last six games. Henderson State is coming off a 4-3 loss to Pittsburg State last Saturday.

The Reddies are led on the season by Courtney Warren who is hitting .318. Morgan South leads the team in hits with nine and Destiny Garza leads the team in RBIs with eight.

Henderson State has a 1.72 team ERA to rank third in the GAC. Michelle Sorensen leads the Reddies with a 1.40 ERA and a 5-2 record. Sorensen has made seven appearances and thrown four complete games. She has given up 22 hits and struck out 36.