ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Harding softball team fell 5-4 to Northeastern State and then fell 7-5 to Missouri Western on Saturday on the first day of the Ronnie Hawkins Memorial Classic hosted by Ouachita.  
 
Harding falls to 2-2 on the season

Northeastern State and Missouri Western both improve to 1-0 on the season.
 
Game One Key Innings (Northeastern State 5, Harding 4)

• Harding got on the board first when Courtney Derrick scored in the bottom of the first.
• Northeastern State tied the game in the top of the second on an RBI single by Ryan Martin.
• The RiverHawks added two more in the third off three hits and an error and then another in the fourth.
• Harding got a run back in the sixth on an RBI by Amanda Berdon
• Northeastern State scored another insurance run in the seventh on two hits.
• Harding produced two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and with a runner at third the Lady Bisons couldn't get the tying run across.

 
Game One Key Statistics

• Harding had eight hits in the game, led by Kimmy Hendricks who had two. Courtney Derrick and Peyton Mills each scored two runs for the Lady Bisons
• Freshman pitcher Ashley Smith started for Harding and got the loss, throwing 3 1/3 innings.
• Freshman pitcher Hannah Johnson relieved Smith for the Lady Bisons. She pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and a run.
• Northeastern State had 11 hits in the game and had four players with two hits and five players picking up an RBI.
• Kayce Wooldridge threw the complete game for the RiverHawks. She gave up eight hits, and four earned runs and struck out five.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Missouri Western 7, Harding 5)

• Missouri Western scored five runs on three hits and one error in the top of the second inning. Shelbie Atwell a grand slam to lead the Griffons.
• After two scoreless innings, Harding tied the game scoring five in the bottom of the fifth on five hits.
• Missouri Western scored another run in the sixth and a run in the seventh, both on three hits.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

• Junior Courtney Derrick led Harding with three hits and a run scored. Freshman Peyton Mills had two hits.
• Mackenzie Jones had two RBI's for the Lady Bisons and Kinsey Beck and Alexus Lawellin each had an RBI.
• Paige Shifflett had the other RBI for Missouri Western and Korgie Morgan had two hits and two runs scored.
• Janie Smith got the win for the Griffons pitching a complete game. She gave up eight hits and four earned runs.
• Three different players pitched for the Lady Bisons. Kristen Dempsey started the game and pitched one inning. Hannah Johnson pitched four innings, giving up two hits and a run. Ashley Smith received the loss after pitching the final two innings.

Up Next

• Harding will wrap up the classic on Sunday when it takes on Mississippi College at 11 a.m., and then Missouri Western at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at Henderson State's field in Arkadelphia.