SEARCY – The Harding softball team swept Ouachita Baptist Sunday in a Great American Conference doubleheader on senior day. The Lady Bisons won 5-4 on a walk-off home run by Briley Feringa and won the second game 3-1 led by a two-run home run by Amanda Fields.
After the game, Harding recognized players Amanda Berry and Peyton Mills and graduate assistant Jessica Romine for their contributions to Harding softball program.
Harding improves to 29-17 overall and 21-13 in the GAC.
Ouachita Baptist falls to 18-23 overall and 16-15 in the GAC.
Game One Key Innings (Harding 5, Ouachita Baptist 4)
- Ouachita Baptist scored three runs on three hits and a Harding error in the first inning. Jillian Jones highlighted the inning when she hit a double down the right field line that scored two.
- Harding got a run back in the first when Lindsey Duncan hit a RBI triple to right field. It was her third triple of the season.
- The Lady Bisons made it a 3-2 game in the third when Amanda Fields drove in Peyton Mills on a single.
- Harding tied the game in the fourth when Kyndal Pirtle hit a single that drove in Lauren Bazan.
- Ouachita Baptist went up 4-3 in the fifth when Natalie Jackson hit a solo home run to left field.
- Amanda Fields tied the game for the Lady Bisons in the fifth when she singled in Peyton Mills.
- With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Briley Feringa took a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence to give Harding the victory.
Game One Key Statistics
- Harding had nine hits led by Peyton Mills, Amanda Fields and Lauren Bazan who each had two.
- Ouachita Baptist had seven hits led by Kyndal Moyer who went 2-for-2.
- It was Briley Feringa's seventh home run of the season and the fourth walk-off home run in school history.
- Jenna Hipp got the win for Harding and improves to 13-5 overall. She threw her eighth complete game and struck out five.
- Marissa Butler received the loss for Ouachita Baptist and falls to 10-11 overall.
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 3, Ouachita Baptist 1)
- Harding scored three runs on three hits and an Ouachita Baptist error in the first inning. Briley Feringa singled in the first run and then Amanda Fields hit a two-run home run to left center field. It was her eighth of the season.
- Madison Miller led off the third inning for Ouachita Baptist with a solo home run to center field.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Harding had seven hits led by Briley Feringa who had two.
- Ouachita Baptist had five hits led by Jillian Jones who went 2-for-3.
- Harding left eight runners on base.
- Amanda Berry got her first win of the season for Harding after battling injuries. She is now 1-0. Berry went four innings, gave up one earned run and struck out two.
- Emma Dwyer pitched three innings and earned the save for Harding. It was her 12th save of the season which leads all NCAA divisions.
Next Up
- The two teams will wrap up their four-game series Monday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
