SEARCY – The Harding softball team fell to the fourth-ranked Southern Arkansas Muleriders 9-5 in nine innings Sunday to open Great American Conference play. Game two of the doubleheader was suspended due to darkness with Southern Arkansas leading 4-3 after five innings. Game two will pickup at the top of the sixth inning at 11 a.m. Monday.

The two teams will play a doubleheader after the conclusion of the suspended game.

Harding falls to 8-3 overall and 0-1 in the GAC.

Southern Arkansas improves to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in the GAC.

Game One Key Innings (#4 Southern Arkansas 9, Harding 5 (9 Inn.)

-         Harding got things going into the bottom of the first scoring two runs on three hits. Hanna Jones hit a double over the center fielders head that drove in two.

-         Southern Arkansas took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when Chelsea Fagan hit a three-run home run to left center field.

-         The Lady Bisons answered back in the bottom of the sixth scoring two runs on four hits. Madison Leggett and Mason McCord both singled in a run.

-         The first batter of the seventh inning Sarah Evans tied the game for the Muleriders when she hit a solo home run to right center field.

-         Southern Arkansas broke the tie in the ninth inning scoring five runs on four hits. Savannah Martinez doubled in two runs and Sarah Pitre hit a three-run home run.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         The Lady Bisons had a season-high 13 hits with Peyton Mills, Briley Feringa, Hanna Jones and Kyndal Pirtle each having two.

-         Peyton Mills had three stolen bases in the game. It tied the school record for the most stolen bases in a game.

-         It was Harding's first extra inning game this season. The Lady Bisons are now 14-11 in extra innings. Harding went 4-1 in extra innings last season.

-         Harding left nine runners on base.

-         Elisa Favela got the win for Southern Arkansas. It was her first outing of the season. She pitched four innings, gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out three.

-         Emma Dwyer received the loss for Harding. She falls to 1-2 on the season. She pitched 2 1/3 innings, gave up four earned runs and had five strikeouts.

Game Two Key Innings (Southern Arkansas 4, Harding 3 – suspended due to darkness)

-         Southern Arkansas got on the board in the third inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Faith Otts highlighted the inning with a two-run home run to left field.

-         Harding pulled with one, scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Katie Carney had a pitch-hit double to left field that scored two runs and Kiley Person scored on a wild pitch.

-         The game was suspended after the fifth inning due to darkness.