SEARCY – The Harding softball team split with Arkansas-Monticello on Friday in Great American Conference action at the Harding Softball Field. Freshman Peyton Mills hit her second walk-off home run at home to win the first game 6-5. The Blossoms jumped out to an early lead in game two and went on to win 8-6.
Game One Key Innings (Harding 6, Arkansas-Monticello 5)
Harding moves to 26-18 overall and 18-14 in the GAC. Arkansas-Monticello moves to 24-20 overall and 18-14 in the GAC. The two teams stayed tied for fourth in the GAC standings after Friday. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the GAC Tournament held in Bentonville, Arkansas April 28-30.
- Harding took a 2-0 lead after the bottom of the first after Kimmy Hendricks hit a two run home run to left field.
- Arkansas-Monticello tied the game in the third on three hits and a Harding error on RBIs by McKenzie Rice and Holly Wilmarth.
- The Blossoms took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Kali Piha drove in Korie Parker from second.
- Harding took back the lead in the fifth scoring two runs. Alexus Lawellin hit a home run to right field and then Kimmy Hendricks drove in Peyton Mills from second.
- The Lady Bisons took a 5-3 lead in the sixth when Kinsey Beck scored from second on an Arkansas-Monticello fielding error.
- The Blossoms battled back and tied the game in the sixth when Korie Parker hit a two run home run to left field.
- With two outs in the seventh, Peyton Mills hit her fifth home run of the season to win it for Harding.
Game One Key Statistics
- Harding had 11 hits in the game as four different Lady Bisons had multiple hits in the game. Peyton Mills led Harding, going 3-for-3.
- Arkansas-Monticello had nine hits in the game led by Korie Parker who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
- The two teams combined for five home runs in the game.
- win of the season to improve to 13-5. She threw her 11 complete game, gave up four earned runs and struck out a season-high six batters.thHarding starting pitcher Hannah Johnson picked up her 13
- Alyson Finnigan received the loss and falls to 2-3 on the season. She pitched 1/3 of an inning. Kendra Coleman, the Blossoms starter, went six innings and gave up 10 hits, four earned runs and struck out eight.
Game Two Key Innings (Arkansas-Monticello 8, Harding 6)
- Arkansas-Monticello took a 2-0 lead in the first on two hits and two Harding errors.
- Harding tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Peyton Mills picked up right where she left off in the first game with a two run home run to right center.
- The Lady Bisons took a 3-2 lead in the second when Kristen Dempsey hit a monster home run to left center field. It was her first career home run for the Lady Bisons.
- The Blossoms answered back with three runs on five hits in the third led by a two run home run by Kali Piha. With the bases loaded and two outs, Harding got out of the inning after picking up a strikeout.
- Arkansas-Monticello tacked on another run in the fourth and then two more in the fifth.
- Harding pulled within three, 8-5 in the fifth scoring two runs. Kimmy Hendricks and Kinsey Beck each drove in a run.
- The Lady Bisons made it an 8-6 game in the sixth when Courtney Derrick hit her first home run of the season.
- Arkansas-Monticello got three quick outs in the seventh to earn the win.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Each team hit three home runs in the game.
- Arkansas-Monticello had 13 hits as six different batters had two hits.
- Harding had eight hits, led by Courtney Derrick who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Elizabeth Delafield went the distance and improves to 8-4 on the season. She gave up six earned runs and struck out four.
- Harding starter Ashley Smith got the loss (7-7) in two innings pitched. Kelly Beth Ernest came on and pitched four and 1/3 innings. She gave up six hits, three earned runs and tied a season-high with four strikeouts.
Up Next
- The two teams will wrap up its four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.
