CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Harding softball team opened is 2019 season with a 5-2 win over third-ranked North Georgia Friday in the NFCA DII Leadoff Classic. The Lady Bisons fell in game two of the tournament 5-0 to Azusa Pacific.
Since Harding restarted softball in 2014, the Lady Bisons have not lost a season opener.
North Georgia was the highest ranked team Harding has ever beaten. The Lady Bisons are 14-16 against ranked opponents.
Game One Key Innings (Harding 5, #3 North Georgia 2)
- Harding got on the board in the third inning when Hanna Jones hit a three-run home run that scored Jenna Hipp and Allison Hyatt.
- North Georgia got two runs back in the fourth when Olivia Sinquefield and Cheyanne Mosteller each singled in a run.
- The Lady Bisons added two more runs in the fourth on singles by Hanna Jones and Lindsey Duncan.
Game One Key Statistics
- It was freshman Hanna Jones' first collegiate home run.
- Jones and Briley Feringa each had two hits for Harding.
- Harding had seven hits.
- Freshman Jenna Hipp picked up her first collegiate win with five innings pitched. She gave up seven hits, and struck out two.
- Emily Garrett earned the save in two innings of work. It was her second career save.
Game Two Key Innings (Azusa Pacific 5, Harding 0)
- Harding had the bases loaded in the first inning but Azusa Pacific got a strikeout to end the inning.
- The Cougars scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning.
- Azusa Pacific scored two more runs in the fourth inning off three hits and a Harding error.
- The Cougars scored its final run in the fifth when Amanda Woods singled in a run.
- The Lady Bisons left the bases loaded in the top of the sixth but the Cougars got out of the inning on a ground out.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Harding had five hits, two by Briley Feringa
- Azusa Pacific had 10 hits and were led by Amanda Woods who went 3-for-4.
- Racqual Espinoza received the win in six innings of work. She gave up four hits and had three strikeouts.
- Emma Dwyer received the loss and falls to 0-1 on the season. She had five strikeouts in the game.
- Kymberlyn Baldwin made her Harding debut in the circle in 2.2 innings of work.
Up Next
- Harding will continue the tournament Saturday taking on No. 5 Saint Leo had 3:30 p.m. and West Georgia at 5:30 p.m. All-times are central.