SEARCY – The Harding softball team dropped the suspended game from Friday 8-5 but rebounded to win the last two games of the series 5-3 and 7-2. The Lady Bisons win the series 3-1 after winning the first game on Friday 9-2 in five innings.

After the games on Saturday, Harding recognized Kinsey Beck and Maegan Hall for their contributions to the Lady Bison softball program.

Harding improves to 34-22 overall and 26-18 in the GAC. Southwestern Oklahoma moves to 17-35 overall and 15-27 in the GAC. Harding has already sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament held April 28-30 in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Lady Bisons are currently in fourth place in the GAC standings and will find out what seed they will be in the upcoming conference tournament on Sunday due to SAU/UAM moving their series.

Series Game Two Key Innings (Southwestern Okla. 8, Harding 5)

-         Miranda West got things started for Southwestern Oklahoma in the top of the first inning with a double to left center field that scored two runs.

-         Harding answered back with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Alexus Lawellin, Peyton Mills and Mackenzie Jones each had an RBI in the inning.

-         The Lady Bisons made it a 5-2 game in the second on a sacrifice fly by Kimmy Hendricks and a single by Mackenzie Jones.

-         Southwestern Oklahoma took a 6-5 lead in the fourth scoring four runs on six hits. Taya Haney hit a two RBI single to highlight the inning for the Bulldogs.

-         The game was suspended until Saturday at noon due to darkness after the fourth inning.

-         Southwestern Oklahoma scored two more runs in the sixth when Jones hit a two run home run to left field.

-         Harding had runners in scoring possession in the bottom of the sixth but wasn't able to score a run.

 
Series Game Two Key Statistics

-         Harding had 11 hits in the game for the sixth straight game.  Alexus Lawellin and Mackenzie Jones each had three hits for the Lady Bisons.

-         The Lady Bisons left 11 runners on in the game.

-         Taya Haney got the win for Southwestern Oklahoma to improve to 7-13 on the season. She threw the complete game, gave up 11 hits and struck out four.

-         Harding relief pitcher Ashley Smith got the loss and falls to 7-8 on the season.

 
Series Game Three Key Innings (Harding 5, Southwestern Okla. 3)

-         Harding got on the board in the first scoring a run when Peyton Mills grounded out to the shortstop.

-         The Lady Bisons added four runs on two hits in the fifth led by two RBIs by Kinsey Beck when she doubled down the right field line.

-         Southwestern Oklahoma made things interesting in the seventh inning. With one out, Emily Garcia doubled in two runs two runs and then with two outs Samantha Perry knocked in another run. Harding got the next Bulldog batter to fly out to left for the final out.

 
Series Game Three Key Statistics

-         Harding had four hits in the game and Southwestern Oklahoma had nine. Brooklynn Moon led the Lady Bisons with two.

-         Hannah Johnson got the win for Harding to improve to 18-8 on the season. With the win, Johnson tied Amber Rollins (2014-15) for the most wins in a season.

-         Kelly Beth Ernest picked up the save pitching a 1/3 of an inning.

-         Larie Amos received the loss and falls to 2-5 on the season.

 
Series Game Four Key Innings (Harding 7, Southwestern Okla. 2)

-         Harding jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, led by a two run home run by Peyton Mills. Her home run was her 11th of the season which broke the previous Harding record of 10 set by Amanda Berdon (2014) and Carolyn Clayton (2015). Alexus Lawellin and Mackenzie Jones knocked in the Lady Bisons other runs.

-         Southwestern Oklahoma got a run back in the third when Miranda West hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Taya Haney.

-         Harding scored its fifth run in the third and it sixth run in the fifth off a solo home run by Kimmy Hendricks. It was her eighth home run of the season.

-         The Lady Bisons scored its final run in the sixth off a suicide squeeze by Brookelynn Moon.

 
Series Game Four Key Statistics

-         Harding had seven hits in the game led by Alexus Lawellin and Kimmy Hendricks who each had two.

-         Kristen Dempsey picked up the win for Harding to improve to 4-1 on the season. She threw four innings, gave up four hits and two earned runs.

-         Kelly Beth Ernest pitched three shutout innings to pick up her 10th save of the season.

-         Taylor Eaves received the loss for Southwestern Oklahoma and falls to 6-12 on the season.