SEARCY – The Harding softball team split with East Central on Saturday in Great American Conference action at the Harding Softball Field. The Lady Bisons took the first game 3-1 but dropped the second game 10-1 in five innings. After winning two on Friday, Harding wins the series 3-1. It was Harding's fifth GAC series win this season.
Harding moves to 25-11 overall and 17-7 in the GAC. East Central moves to 15-20 overall and 12-12 in the GAC.
Game One Key Innings (Harding 3, East Central 1)
- East Central got on the board first in the top of the first when Jordynn VanPelt doubled down the left field line to score Taylor Davis from second.
- Harding answered back with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. Peyton Mills singled in the Lady Bisons first run and Alexus Lawellin scored on a wild pitch.
- Harding scored its final run in the second when Courtney Derrick singled to right field that scored Morgan Acosta from third.
Game One Key Statistics
- Each team had seven hits in the game.
- Harding was led by Courtney Derrick who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
- When Peyton Mills singled in the bottom of the first she reached base for the 34th straight game.
- Three different East Central players had two hits in the game.
- Hannah Johnson picked up the win for the Lady Bisons. She improves to 12-2 on the season. She allowed one run and gave up seven hits and struck out two. It was her eighth complete game this season.
- Marissa Shaffer got the loss for East Central and falls to 7-7 on the season.
Game Two Key Innings (East Central 10, Harding 1 – 5 Innings)
- Harding took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Mackenzie Jones singled in Alexus Lawellin from second.
- East Central took a 3-1 lead in the third inning led by a two run home run by Jordynn VanPelt. Michelle Brandon singled in the other Tiger run.
- East Central made it a 9-1 game in the bottom of the fourth when it scored six runs on five hits. Mariah Ewy and Kelbie Crelia each singled in two runs in the inning for the Tigers.
- East Central scored its final run in the fifth after VanPelt singled to center.
Game Two Key Statistics
- East Central held Harding to three hits in the game. It was the fewest hits in a game at home this season.
- The Tigers had 15 hits led by Jordynn VanPelt who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
- Alexus Lawellin led Harding with two hits.
- Peyton Mills did not reach base in the game for the Lady Bisons as her reach base streak will end at 35. Her streak set a Harding record earlier this season. She broke Kimmy Hendricks' streak of 21, set last season.
- Kelbie Crelia got the win for East Central to improve her record to 2-4. The left hander pitched all five innings, gave up three hits and one earned run. She also struck out three.
- Harding starting pitcher Ashley Smith received the loss and falls to 7-4 on the season in 2 2/3 innings of work. Kristen Dempsey pitched one inning of relief and Kelly Beth Ernest pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Up Next
- Harding will be back in action on Tuesday when it hosts No. 4 Arkansas Tech in a GAC doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
