ADA, Okla. – The 4th-ranked Harding softball team split with East Central on Friday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons fell 1-0 in game one and then run ruled the Tigers in game two 11-1.
It was Harding's first loss since Feb. 24 at Southwestern Oklahoma and it snapped a 27-game winning streak. The winning streak set a new GAC record previously held by Arkansas Tech who won 19 straight last season.
Alexus Lawellin got a hit in both games on Friday to improve her school record hitting streak to 23 games.
The Lady Bisons move to 36-4 on the season and 26-2 in the GAC. Harding still has a two-game lead over Southern Arkansas for first place in the GAC standings. East Central move to 21-19 overall and 12-16 in the GAC.
Game One Key Innings (East Central 1, #4 Harding 0)
- East Central broke the 0-0 tie in the sixth when Jaclyn Willis walked to start the inning and then with two outs Madison Thompson hit a single to center field to score Willis from third. It was East Central's only hit in the game.
Game One Key Statistics
- Harding had four hits in the game and left five runners on base.
- Hannah Johnson had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning for Harding. She received the loss and falls to 17-2 on the season. She pitched all seven innings, gave up one earned run and struck out six.
- Kelbie Crelia got the win for East Central and improves to 8-7 on the season. She threw a complete game shutout and struck out three batters.
Game Two Key Innings (#4 Harding 11, East Central 1)
- After two scoreless innings, Harding made it a 1-0 game in the third when Kimmy Hendricks-Campbell hit a double down the left field line to score Peyton Mills.
- East Central tied the game in the third when Madison Thompson hit a single to left field to score Carlee Henderson.
- Alexus Lawellin singled in Harding's second run in the fourth and Lindsey Duncan walked with the bases loaded in the fifth.
- Harding scored eight runs on six hits in the sixth inning. Courtney Derrick and Alexus Lawellin highlighted the inning. With the bases loaded Derrick hit a bases clearing double and Lawellin hit a two-run home run to right field. It was her second home run of the season. Amanda Berdon, Amanda Berry and Briley Feringa each had a RBI in the inning.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Harding had 13 hits in the game with four players having two hits.
- East Central had five hits and three errors in the game.
- Autumn Humes got the win for Harding and improved to 17-1 on the season. She pitched five innings gave up four hits, one earned run and struck out 10. It was the fifth time this season she has struck out 10 or more in a game.
- Amanda Berry came in and pitched one inning of relief for Harding. She gave up one hit and struck out one.
- Lindsay Wade received the loss for East Central. She pitched 1 2/3 innings, gave up three hits and two earned runs.
Up Next
- The two teams will wrap up their four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.
