ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Harding softball team defeated Mississippi College 7-6 but fell to Missouri Western 4-1 on the final day of the Ronnie Hawkins Memorial Classic hosted by Ouachita.  
 
Harding moves to 3-3 on the season.

Mississippi College falls to 1-2 overall and Missouri Western improves to 2-2.
 
Game One Key Innings (Harding 7, Mississippi College 6)

• Harding got on the board first when Brookelynn Moon singled in the bottom of the second inning.
• Mississippi College scored three runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the fourth inning.
• The Lady Bisons got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Amanda Berdon scored on a passed ball. Harding had two hits in the inning.
• The Lady Bisons scored two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.
• Harding took a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth after Kimmy Hendricks hit a triple with the bases loaded.
• Mississippi College started the top of the seventh with a homerun and a triple. The Lady Choctaws scored the runner from third but couldn't produce the tying run. Kelly Beth Ernest came in and relieved Ashley Smith in the circle for Harding. Ernest got a fly out and a ground out to give the Lady Bisons the win.

 
Game One Key Statistics

• Hannah Johnson started the game in the circle for Harding. She pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and three runs.
• Ashley Smith (2-2) received the win for Harding, pitching three innings. Kelly Beth Ernest picked up her first career save.
• Carlie Sargent got the loss for Mississippi College, coming in in relief and pitching three innings.
• Brookelynn Moon led Harding at the plate, going 3-for-3 and an RBI. Alexus Lawellin and Kinsey Back each had two hits. Lawellin also had two runs scored.
• Kinsey Beck and Courtney Derrick moved their hitting streaks to five games.
• It was the third time this season Kimmy Hendricks has had multiple RBI games. She had three against the Lady Choctaws on Sunday.
• Tylan Buckley went 2-for-2 for Mississippi College with two runs scored. Lauren Mulligan went 2-for-4 with two RBI's.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Missouri Western 4, Harding 1)

• After three scoreless innings, Missouri Western scored two runs on three hits in the top of the fourth.
• Harding scored its run in the bottom of the fifth after Alexus Lawellin reached on an error. The Lady Bisons had two hits in the inning.
• The Griffons tacked on two more in the top of the seventh on four hits.
• Harding had runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't produce a run.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

• Harding had six hits in the game led by Kinsey Beck who had two.
• Missouri Western had seven hits, all by different players.
• Shyanne Saladino (1-1) got the win for the Griffons, pitching a complete game. She gave up six hits and struck out five.
• Kelly Beth Ernest started the game for Harding and pitched three innings but earned the loss. Ashley Smith pitched four innings in relief for the Lady Bisons.

Up Next

• Harding will travel to Bentonville, Arkansas to face six different teams in the Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic next weekend. The Lady Bisons will play Minnesota-Duluth and Central Missouri on Friday, Northeastern State and Truman State on Saturday and then Pittsburg State and Drury on Sunday.