CONROE, Texas – The Harding softball team opened its 2020 campaign Friday in the Arkansas Tech Invitational. The Lady Bisons fell to No. 21 Tarleton State 11-5 and No. 10 Texas A&M-Commerce 2-1.

Game One Key Innings (#21 Tarleton State 11, Harding 5)

-         Tarleton State got on the board first scoring two runs on a hit and an error in the first inning.

-         The Texan's added another run in the second inning making it 3-0.

-         Harding pulled within one in the third when Amanda Field's singled in two runs.

-         Tarleton State answered back with a run on two hits and an error in the bottom of the third.

-         Harding got two more runs back in the fourth when Hannah Garrett walked with the bases loaded and Briley Feringa singled in a run.

-         The Texan's broke the tie in the fourth when scoring a run on two hits and an error.

-         The Lady Bisons tied the game at five in the fifth when Lindsey Duncan hit a single up the middle that scored Kendall Tramel.

-         Tarleton State broke the game open in the fifth scoring six runs on six hits and an error.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Lindsey Duncan led Harding going 4-for-5 at the plate. She also had a RBI.

-         Briley Feringa and Kendall Tramel each went 2-for-3 for Harding.

-         Georgia Capell and Morgan Medord each had three hits for Tarleton State.

-         Harding had 11 hits and had five errors.

-         Tarleton State had 13 hits and one error in the game.

-         Julia Wernet got the win for Tarleton State. She went four innings and gave up one earned run.

-         Lily Tanski received the loss for Harding in a third of an inning of work. Harding starter Jenna Hipp went 3 2/3 innings. She had one strikeout and gave up one earned run.

 
Game Two Key Innings (#10 Texas A&M-Commerce 2, Harding 1)

-         Texas A&M-Commerce got on the board in the second scoring two runs on one hit. Alyssa LeBlanc tripled in a run and Madison Schaefer hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

-         Harding got a run back in the sixth when Hanna Jones hit a triple that scored Hannah Garrett from first.

-         The Lady Bisons had a runner at third with two outs in the seventh but could not produce a run.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Harding had four hits, all by different players.

-         Texas A&M-Commerce had three hits, all by different players.

-         Alyssa LeBlanc got the win for the Lions. She went six innings and had five strikeouts.

-         Aidan Nichols received the loss for Harding. She went six innings and had a career-high 11 strikeouts.

Up Next

-         Harding will continue the tournament Saturday taking on Texas A&M-International at 10 a.m. and No. 17 Cameron at 12:30 p.m.