Harding (25-17, 17-13 GAC) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (23-19, 17-13 GAC)
Searcy, Ark. • April 8 – 2 p.m. (Doubleheader), April 9 – 12 p.m. (Doubleheader) – Pink Out

HOW TO FOLLOW
Internet:
    Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com
    Live Video: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Phil Berry, Harding
    at Harding: 80-75 (3rd season)
    Career: same
    vs. UAM: 4-3
Alvy Early, Arkansas-Monticello
    at UAM: 702-390-2 (20th season)
    Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: HU leads 4-3
in Searcy: HU leads 4-2
First Meeting: HU 4-1 (3/21/14)
Last Meeting: HU 7-2 (3/21/15)
Current Streak: HU 1 game

The Harding softball team will host Arkansas-Monticello in a four game Great American Conference series Friday and Saturday at the Harding Softball Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 2 p.m., and then play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon. On Saturday, the Lady Bisons will be wearing pink jerseys and will be taking donations for National Foundation for Cancer Research.

Harding is 6-4 at home this season and will playing its fourth GAC series at home.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding is coming off a GAC series at Southern Arkansas last weekend. The Lady Bisons dropped all four games to the Lady Muleriders – 4-0, 7-5, 6-0 and 12-4. Freshman Alexus Lawellin led Harding, hitting .444 with a home run and three runs scored.

Harding is currently tied with Arkansas-Monticello for fourth place in the GAC standings. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the conference tournament held April 28-30 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Harding is hitting .318 to rank third in the GAC. Alexus Lawellin leads the Lady Bisons hitting .374 in 123 at bats. Junior Courtney Derrick, Harding's leadoff hitter, is hitting .360 on the season and leads the Lady Bisons with 54 hits which ranks third in the GAC. In 62 opportunities this season when batting leadoff Derrick has reached base 25 times (40.3 percent).

Kimmy Hendricks leads the GAC and ranks 19th in NCAA Division II in RBIs with 43. Hendricks is hitting .270 on the season and leads the Lady Bisons with six home runs, three have been grand slams.

Freshman Peyton Mills ranks tied for sixth in the GAC in runs scored with 35. She ranks second in the GAC in drawn walks with 26 and is second behind Alexus Lawellin (.469) with a .465 on base percentage.

Harding ranks first in the GAC and 13th in NCAA Division II in stolen bases with 101 (2.40 per game). The Lady Bisons have 44 more stolen bases than second place in the GAC (Southeastern Okla. 57). The Lady Bisons have five players ranked in the top 10 in the GAC. Courtney Derrick ranks second with 21, Peyton Mills ranks third with 20, Kinsey Beck and Alexus Lawellin ranks tied for fifth with 15 and Kimmy Hendricks ranks 10th with 13.

Harding ranks first in the GAC in hits (365), RBIs (217), doubles (61), stolen bases (101) and saves (10). The Lady Bisons rank third in the GAC in batting average (.318), slugging percentage (.460) and on base percentage (.393).

Harding ranks eighth in the GAC with a 4.01 team ERA. Junior Hannah Johnson leads the Lady Bisons with a 2.55 ERA and a 12-5 record. She has also thrown 10 complete games.

Freshman pitcher Kelly Beth Ernest leads all of NCAA Division II with eight saves.

Harding has hit 28 home runs this season to rank sixth in the GAC. Of the Lady Bisons 28 home runs, five have been grand slams and Harding has had a least two runners on during 12 of the home runs.

Harding ranks seventh in the GAC with a .957 fielding percentage. The Lady Bisons have turned 22 double plays this season to rank first in the GAC.

Opponent Notes:
Arkansas-Monticello heads into the series with a 23-19 overall record and a 17-13 GAC record. The Cotton Blossoms are coming off a four-game series against Arkansas Tech. The Golden Suns took all four games – 4-2, 12-7, 7-0 and 6-3.

Arkansas-Monticello has played its last 12 games at home. The Cotton Blossoms are 5-9 in true road games this season and our 9-13 away from its home field.

Arkansas-Monticello is led at the plate by McKenzie Rice who is hitting .377 to rank 10th in the GAC. Rice and Holly Wilmarth rank tied for fifth in the GAC in hits with 49.

The Cotton Blossoms have a 3.62 team ERA. Elizabeth Delafield and Kendra Coleman will both get the start each day. Delafield has a 2.76 ERA and a 7-4 record in 18 appearances. Coleman has a 3.75 ERA and a 11-9 record in 23 appearances.

Arkansas-Monticello ranks second in the GAC in home runs with 42. McKenzie Rice leads the Cotton Blossoms with 11 which is tied for third in the GAC. Holly Wilmarth ranks tied for sixth with 10 and Kali Bolter ranks 10th with eight.

Arkansas-Monticello Ranking in the GAC:

Batting Average: .276 – 5th
Hits: 305 – 3rd
Home Runs: 42 – 2nd
Wins: 22 – t-5th
ERA: 3.62 – 7th
Strikeouts: 208 – 4th

Arkansas-Monticello Players Ranking in the GAC:

Batting Average: McKenzie Rice - .377 – 10th
On Base Pct: McKenzie Rice - .471 – 7th

Runs Scored: McKenzie Rice – 38 – 3rd

Home Runs: McKenzie Rice – 8 – 4th