MONTICELLO, Ark. – The 2nd-ranked Harding softball team split a Great American Conference doubleheader at Arkansas-Monticello on Monday. Lady Bisons dropped the first game 4-0 but rebounded to win game two 12-3 in six innings. Along with two wins on Sunday, Harding wins the series 3-1.
The Lady Bisons move to 46-6 overall and 36-4 in the GAC. Arkansas-Monticello moves to 32-18 overall and 25-13 in the GAC.
Harding will be the No. 1 seed in the GAC Tournament held May 4-6 in Bentonville, Ark. The Lady Bisons will open the tournament against the No. 8 seed and will play at 1 p.m., on Thursday May 4th at the Tiger Athletic Complex.
Game One Key Innings (Arkansas-Monticello 4, #2 Harding 0)
- Arkansas-Monticello scored a run on two hits in the first inning. Maranda Clendenin hit a double to center field that scored McKenzie Rice.
- The Blossoms scored one run on three hits in fifth to take a 2-0 lead. With a runner at third Kendra Coleman singled to the third basemen to score Jordan Herbner.
- Arkansas-Monticello made it a 4-0 game in the sixth scoring two runs on two hits. McKenzie Rice hit a single to center field that scored two runs.
Game One Key Statistics
- Harding had five hits in the game by five different players. The Lady Bisons left six on base.
- Arkansas-Monticello had seven hits led by McKenzie Rice who went 3-for-4.
- It was the third time this season the Lady Bisons have been shutout.
- Kendra Coleman received the win for the Blossoms and improves to 19-6. She threw the complete game, gave up five hits and struck out six.
- Hannah Johnson received the loss for Harding. She falls to 20-4 on the season. She threw 5 2/3 innings, gave up seven hits, four earned runs, walked four and struck out five.
Game Two Key Innings (#2 Harding 12, Arkansas-Monticello 3 – 6 innings)
- Autumn Humes singled in a run in the first inning and Lindsey Duncan had a RBI ground out in the second inning to give Harding a 2-0 lead.
- The Lady Bisons scored another run in the third when Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell had a RBI ground out.
- Harding made it a 5-0 game in the fourth when Alexus Lawellin hit a double to left field that scored two runs.
- Autumn Humes had a leadoff home run in the fifth and then two batters later Brookelynn Moon singled in Amanda Berdon from second.
- Arkansas-Monticello made it a 7-1 game in the fifth when McKenzie Rice hit a single to left field.
- Harding scored five runs on four hits in the sixth inning to make it a 12-1 game. Amanda Berdon highlighted the inning with a three-run home run to left field. It was her sixth of the season.
- The Blossoms scored two more runs in the sixth on three hits and a Harding error. Ashton Currey and Aubree Head each drove in a run for Arkansas-Monticello.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Harding had 14 hits in the game with Courtney Derrick, Peyton Mills and Autumn Humes each having three. It was the 21st time this season the Lady Bisons have had over 10 hits in a game.
- Arkansas-Monticello had eight hits with McKenzie Rice and Aubree Head each going 2-for-3.
- Autumn Humes got the win for Harding. She improves to 25-1 on the season. Humes pitched five innings, gave up five hits, no earned runs and struck out eight.
- Kaylee Freeman received the loss for Arkansas-Monticello and falls to 8-9 on the season. She threw three innings, gave up six hits, four earned runs and walked one.
Up Next
- Harding will play its final regular season conference series this weekend when it hosts Northwestern Oklahoma. First pitch in the four-game series is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.
