SEARCY – The Harding softball team swept East Central on Friday in Great American Conference action, winning 7-5 and 6-4. Peyton Mills hit a walk-off three run home run to lead the Lady Bisons to the first win and Amanda Berdon knocked in three runs in the second game.
Harding moves to 24-10 overall and 16-6 in the GAC. East Central falls to 14-19 overall and 11-11 in the GAC.
Game One Key Innings (Harding 7, East Central 5)
- Harding got things started in the first inning on a Peyton Mills double to right center that scored Courtney Derrick from second.
- The Lady Bisons tacked on three more runs on four hits in the fifth inning on RBIs by Brookelynn Moon, Alexus Lawellin and Peyton Mills.
- East Central answered back with two runs in the sixth on four hits. Jordynn VanPelt led off the inning with a home run and Bre'Anna Davis singled to right to score Reeves from third.
- The Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the seventh. Lauren Reeves grounded out but Autumn Suydam was able to score on the play. Kasey Moore then hit a two-run home run to left field to give East Central the lead.
- Harding started off the seven inning with a double by Morgan Acosta. Courtney Derrick then hit a bunt single. After a fielder's choice, Peyton Mills stepped up to the plate. With a 1-1 count, she hit a home run to right field that won it for the Lady Bisons.
Game One Key Statistics
- Harding had 12 hits in the game for the 12th time this season.
- Courtney Derrick went 3-for-3 with a run scored.
- Peyton Mills went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
- East Central was led by Sydney Dow who went 3-for-4.
- Hannah Johnson started the game for the Lady Bisons and went 6 1/3 innings. She gave up seven hits and three runs.
- Kelly Beth Ernest came on in relief and got the win to improve to 5-4 on the season. She gave up three hits and two earned runs.
- Sydney Dow got the loss for East Central as she falls to 3-2 on the season. She pitched 6 1/3 innings, gave up 12 hits, seven earned runs and struck out five.
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 6, East Central 4)
- Harding scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning to lead 5-0. Amanda Berdon hit a three-run double to highlight the inning for the Lady Bisons.
- East Central got on the board in the fourth on a Kasey Moore sacrifice fly to center field that scored Lauren Reeves.
- The Tigers scored another run in the fifth on a single up the middle by Autumn Suydam.
- Harding got an insurance run in the fifth when Kinsey Beck drove in Kimmy Hendricks.
- East Central made things interesting in the sixth scoring two runs on four hits. Kelly Beth Ernest came on in relief to get the last out of the inning.
Game Two Key Statistics
- East Central outhit Harding 8-7.
- Mackenzie Jones and Courtney Derrick each had two hits for the Lady Bisons.
- Ashley Smith got the win for Harding to improve her record to 7-3. She pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up eight hits and two earned runs. She also struck out three.
- Kelly Beth Ernest picked up her eighth save of the season. She pitched 1 1/3 innings, didn't give up a run and struck out two.
Up Next
- The two teams will wrap up its series on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at noon.
