ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Harding softball team fell to Missouri Western 12-5 but rebounded to beat Missouri-St. Louis 8-3 Friday in the first round of the Alvy Early Softball Classic. The Classic was supposed to be played in Bentonville, Arkansas but was moved to Arkadelphia due to expected weather.

Harding moves to 5-2 on the season.

Missouri Western improved to 5-2 and Missouri-St. Louis falls to 1-7.

Game One Key Innings (Missouri Western 12, Harding 5)

-         Missouri Western took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning highlighted by a three-run home run by Emma Hoffart.

-         Harding got on the board in the second when Peyton Mills walked with the bases loaded.

-         The Griffons scored five more runs in the second.  Morgan Frost hit a grand slam for Missouri Western.

-         The Griffons scored two more runs in the fourth on two hits.

-         Harding had a big fourth inning scoring four runs on five hits. Four different Lady Bisons had a RBI in the inning.

-         Missouri Western added a run in the sixth on three hits to make it 12-5.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Missouri Western had 14 hits in the game led by Emma Hoffart who went 3-for-4 with five RBI.

-         Harding had nine hits with Madison Leggett and Mason McCord who each having two.

-         Five different Harding players had a RBI.

-         Kenzie Hilzer got the win for Missouri Western to improve to 2-1. She threw four innings, gave up five hits, four earned runs and struck out five.

-         Olivia Goodale pitched three effective innings to get her first save of the season.

-         Jenna Hipp received the loss and falls to 2-1. She had two strikeouts.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 8, Missouri-St. Louis 3)

-         Missouri-St. Louis got on the board first in the top of the first when Hayli Richards hit a solo home run.

-         Harding jumped on the board in the bottom of the inning scoring four runs on four hits. With runners at first and third, Harding had a double steal to score the first run.

-         Harding added three more runs in the fourth on a three-run home run by Mason McCord.

-         Missouri-St. Louis scored its final two runs in the fifth off of three hits. Relief pitcher Andee Tiffee hit a two-run home run in the inning.

-         The Lady Bisons added another run in the sixth when Kiley Persons stole second and then went all the way home on a throwing error by the catcher.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Harding had nine hits with Kiley Persons, Lauren Bazan and Hanna Jones each having two.

-         Missouri-St. Louis had seven hits with Hayli Richards going 2-for-4.

-         Mason McCord's three RBI's was a career-high.

-         Pyper James picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. She went three innings, gave up three earned runs and had four strikeouts.

-         Emma Dwyer received the save, pitching three effective innings of relief. It was her third of the season. Dwyer had six strikeouts in the game.

-         Mimi Bradley received the loss and falls to 0-3 on the season. She went three innings, gave up seven earned runs and had one strikeout.

Up Next

-         Harding will wrap up the classic Saturday taking on William Jewell at 11 a.m. and then Emporia State at 5 p.m.