BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team split two games Sunday on the final day of the Alvy Early Softball Classic at Memorial Park. The Lady Bisons fell to Emporia State 9-1 in five innings in the first game and then Hannah Garrett hit a walk-off grand slam to lead Harding to 5-1 win over Wayne State.
It was Harding's fifth walk-off home run and the first grand slam walk-off. It was the Lady Bisons' 16th walk-off win and the second at a neutral site.
Harding moves to 7-4 on the season.
Game One Key Innings (Emporia State 9, Harding 1 – 5 innings)
- Emporia State jumped on the board in the first inning scoring five runs on four hits and a Harding error. Hannah Steeby highlighted the inning with a three-run home run for the Hornets.
- Emporia State added three more in the second on three hits and two Harding errors. Abbey Ward hit a solo homerun and Hannah Steeby hit a two-run home run.
- The Hornets made it 9-0 in the third when Jenna Spence reached on a fielder's choice that scored Maddy Broxterman.
- Harding got on the board in the fourth when Nicole Shano hit a solo home run to center field. It was her first collegiate homerun.
Game One Key Statistics
- Emporia State had 10 hits led by Rachel Kauss who went 3-for-3. Ward and Steeby both had two hits.
- Harding had two hits in the game.
- Sydney Righi got the win for Emporia State and improves to 1-0 on the season. She went the distance and had three strikeouts.
- Harding starter Aidan Nichols received the loss and falls to 3-2 on the season.
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 5, Wayne State 1)
- Wayne State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a RBI single by Ashley Hernandez.
- Harding tied the game in the seventh when Mary Mills Lochala walked with the bases loaded. The next batter, Hannah Garrett, hit a walk-off grand slam to left center for her first collegiate home run.
Game Two Key Statistics
- Both teams had eight hits.
- Harding was led by Amanda Fields and Kendall Tramel who each had two.
- Wayne State was led by Kim Vidlak who went 3-for-4.
- Emma Dwyer got the win for Harding and improves to 2-0. She pitched three innings of relief and had seven strikeouts. Harding starter Jenna Hipp went four innings and had seven strikeouts.
- Hadley Chvatal received the loss for Wayne State and falls to 1-1 on the season. She pitched 6 1/3 innings and had six strikeouts.
Up Next
- Harding will open Great American Conference action next weekend when it travels to Magnolia, Arkansas to take on No. 14 Southern Arkansas in a four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m.
