BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team produced five runs on eight hits to defeat No. 2 seed and No. 18 Southern Arkansas 5-4 on Saturday to advance to the GAC Tournament Championship game. The Lady Bisons will have to wait until late Saturday to find out who they will play on Sunday at 10 a.m., at Bentonville High School.
No. 4 seed Harding improves to 37-22 overall and Southern Arkansas falls to 43-9.
Key Innings (Harding 5, Southern Arkansas 4)
- After two scoreless innings, Harding got on the board in the top of the third when Courtney Derrick singled in Amanda Berdon from second.
- The Lady Bisons added another run in the fourth when Kinsey Beck hit a single back to the pitcher that scored Kimmy Hendricks.
- Southern Arkansas got on the board in the fourth when Maddie Dow homered to center field.
- Harding made it a 3-1 game in the fifth when Brookelynn Moon scored on a throwing error by Southern Arkansas.
- The Lady Muleriders tied the game in the fifth scoring two runs on two hits on RBIs by Liz Hudgins and Taylor Guin.
- The Lady Bisons answered back scoring two runs in the sixth to lead 5-3. Mackenzie Jones singled in a run and Kinsey Beck scored on a throwing error by Southern Arkansas.
- The Lady Muleriders had a single to lead off the seventh. Harding got the next two batters to hit into a fielder's choice which got the lead runner at second. A passed ball sent Taylor Stricklin to second and then she scored off a single by Liz Hudgins. The Lady Bisons got the next batter to fly out to right field to end the game.
Key Statistics
- Harding was led at the plate by Kimmy Hendricks who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- The Lady Bisons had three stolen bases in the game and left five runners on.
- Hannah Johnson, Harding's starter, went the distance to pick up her 21st win of the season (21-8). She threw her 19th complete game, gave up five hits, three earned runs and struck out four. Johnson has pitched every inning for Harding in the tournament (24 innings).
- Kimmy Beasley, the Southern Arkansas starter, received the loss and pitched six innings. She gave up eight hits, three earned runs and struck out two.
With the tournament being double elimination, Harding will have to loss twice on Sunday to not win the tournament championship.
