SEARCY – The Harding softball team dropped both games of a Great American Conference doubleheader to Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday 8-0 and 7-5 at the Harding Softball Field.
Harding falls to 26-20 overall and 18-16 in the GAC. Arkansas-Monticello improves to 26-20 overall and 20-14 in the GAC. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the GAC Tournament held in Bentonville, Arkansas April 28-30.
The Lady Bisons sported pink uniforms in the game to bring awareness for breast cancer. Harding took donations for the National Foundation for Cancer Research during the game.
Game One Key Innings (Arkansas-Monticello 8, Harding 0)
- Arkansas-Monticello took a 2-0 lead after three innings after scoring a run in the first and one in the third.
- The Blossoms made it a 5-0 game scoring three runs on three hits and two Harding errors in the fifth inning. Korie Parker had the only RBI in the inning for the Blossoms.
- of the season.thArkansas-Monticello tacked on three more in the sixth led by a three run home run by Holly Wilmarth. It was her 12
Game One Key Statistics
- Arkansas-Monticello had seven hits in the game led Korie Parker and Kali Piha who each had two.
- It was the fourth time this season Harding has been shutout in conference.
- The Lady Bisons were held to three hits by three different players.
- Kendra Coleman got the win for Arkansas-Monticello and improves to 12-9 overall. She gave up three hits, walked three and struck out five.
- Harding starting pitcher Hannah Johnson got the loss and falls to 13-6 overall. She pitched five innings, gave up one earned run and struck out four.
Game Two Key Innings (Arkansas-Monticello 7, Harding 5)
- Arkansas-Monticello once again took a 1-0 lead after the first.
- Harding answered back in the second when Amanda Berdon singled to center field that scored Kimmy Hendricks from third.
- Kali Piha made it a 3-1 ballgame after hitting a two run home run to right field for the Blossoms.
- An inning later, Harding tied the game 3-3 on RBIs by Amanda Berdon and Heather Montgomery. It was Montgomery's first RBI of the season.
- Arkansas-Monticello blew the game open scoring four runs on four hits in the fifth. McKenzie Rice highlighted the inning with a two run home run to right field.
- Trailing 7-3, Harding battled back and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With a runner at first and two outs, the tying run up came up to the plate but the Blossoms got the third out to end the game.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Each team had 10 hits in the game.
- Arkansas-Monticello had three players with two hits in the game.
- Kimmy Hendricks, Kinsey Beck and Amanda Berdon each had two hits for the Lady Bisons.
- It was the seventh time this season Berdon has had a multiple RBI performance.
- Paisley Pratt got the win for Arkansas-Monticello pitching four innings of relief. She improves to 3-3 on the season as she gave up three hits and two earned runs.
- Harding's starter Hannah Johnson got the loss and falls to 13-7 on the season.
Up Next
- Harding will wrap up its four game series with No. 5 Arkansas Tech on Tuesday in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m., in Russellville, Arkansas. The Golden Suns took both games of a doubleheader in Searcy earlier this season.
