BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team defeated No. 22 Missouri-St. Louis 2-1 and Missouri Western 8-0 in five innings on Friday in the Arkansas-Monticello Softball Challenge.

For the first time in program history, the Lady Bisons are 4-0 on the season.
 
Game One Key Innings (Harding 2, #22 Missouri-St. Louis 1)

-         Brookelynn Moon hit a double to start the third inning and then, on the next batter, scored on an error by the shortstop.

-         Missouri-St. Louis got on the board in the bottom of the third when Sara Kern was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

-         With two outs in the sixth, Kimmy Hendricks hit her first homerun of the season to give Harding a 2-1 lead.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         It was the fourth time Harding has beaten a ranked time. The last time was against then ranked No. 18 Southern Arkansas last season in the Great American Conference Tournament.

-         Harding had five hits in the game, led by Kimmy Hendricks and Brookelynn Moon who each had two.

-         Missouri-St. Louis had six hits, led by Erin Walker and Carly Kingery who each had two.

-         Harding starting pitcher Autumn Humes threw her second complete game and picked up the win. She tied a season-high with eight strikeouts.

-         Carly Kingery got the loss for Missouri-St. Louis.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 8, Missouri Western 0 – 5 Innings)

-         Harding got on the board in the third on a ground out RBI by Peyton Mills and a single by Alexis Lawellin.

-         Harding made it an 8-0 game in the fourth inning. Maddi Trump hit a two-run homerun to start the scoring spree. Autumn Humes also singled in two runs and Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell singled in a run.

-         With runners at first and second and two outs in the fifth, Harding got the batter to ground out to the pitcher.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Harding had 10 hits in the game for the third time this season.

-         Trump's homerun was her first of the season.

-         Eight different Lady Bisons had a hit in the game. Courtney Derrick and Alexus Lawellin each had two.

-         Hannah Johnson picked up her second win for Harding in the circle. It was her first shutout of the season. She gave up three hits and struck out six.

-         Barbara Billingsley got the loss for Missouri Western and falls to 2-1 on the season.

Up Next

-         Harding will continue the two-day challenge on Saturday when it faces Northwest Missouri at 10 a.m., and Pittsburg State at 1 p.m.