BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The 12th-ranked Harding softball team split Thursday on the first day of the UAM Softball Challenge. The Lady Bisons defeated Missouri Western 4-0 but fell to Emporia State 6-4.

Game One Key Innings (#12 Harding 4, Missouri Western 0)

-         Harding made it a 1-0 game after Madi Trump singled in Kyndal Pirtle from third.

-         The Lady Bisons took a 4-0 lead in the third off four hits and one error. Amanda Fields, Kyndal Pirtle and Peyton Mills all singled in a run.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Seven Harding players made their Harding debut in the game.

-         Lindsey Duncan, Briley Feringa and Katie Carney each had two hits for Harding.

-         Amanda Berry picked up her second career win for Harding and her first career shutout. She threw the complete game, gave up three hits, walked one and struck out a career high seven batters.

-         Kenzie Hilzer received the loss for Missouri Western. She threw 3 1/3 innings, gave up eight hits and three earned runs.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Emporia State 6, #12 Harding 4)

-         Emporia State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off three hits.

-         The Hornets scored three more runs in the second led by Kelsey Phillips who had a double that scored two runs.

-         Harding got on the board in the third when Peyton Mills scored on a wild pitch.

-         The Lady Bisons got two more runs back in the fourth when Katlyn Gordon hit her first collegiate home run and Mills singled in a run.

-         Emporia State scored its final run in the fourth when Danielle Sprinkle hit a single down the right field line to score Annelise Rockley from third.

-         Peyton Mills drove in her second run of the game in the sixth when she singled to left center that scored Lindsey Duncan.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Emporia State had 10 hits, Harding had nine.

-         Danielle Sprinkle went 3-for-3 for the Hornets.

-         Peyton Mills led Harding going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

-         Kelsey Phillips got the win for Emporia State. She threw the complete game, gave up four earned runs, walked four and struck out four.

-         Emma Dwyer started for Harding and received the loss in 1 2/3 innings of work. Emily Garrett pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, gave up four hits, one earned run and had one strikeout.

Up Next

-         Harding will wrap up the challenge Friday when it takes on Northwest Missouri at 12 p.m., and Central Missouri at 2 p.m.