MAGNOLIA, Ark.  – The Harding softball team dropped a doubleheader at seventh-ranked Southern Arkansas Friday to open Great American Conference action. The Muleriders won 6-2 and 8-0 in six innings.

Harding falls to 7-7 overall and 0-2 in the GAC.

Southern Arkansas improves to 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the GAC.

Game One Key Innings (Southern Arkansas 6, Harding 2)

-         Southern Arkansas took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Chelsea Fagan had a ground out RBI.

-         The Muleriders added another run in the third off two hits. Chelsea Fagan hit a double to right center that scored Faith Otts.

-         Southern Arkansas took a 6-0 lead in the fourth after scoring four runs on five hits and a Harding error.

-         Harding got on the board in the seventh when Mary Mills Lochala hit a two-run home run to left field. It was her second home run of the season.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Southern Arkansas had nine hits with Faith Otts going 3-for-4 for the Muleriders.

-         Harding had four hits, all by different players.

-         Sydney Wader got the win for Southern Arkansas and improves to 7-0. She threw the complete game and had four strikeouts.

-         Jenna Hipp received the loss for Harding and falls to 1-3 on the season. She went 3 2/3 innings and struck out three. Emma Dwyer pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief and didn't give up a hit and struck out three.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Southern Arkansas 8, Harding 0 – 6 innings)

-         Southern Arkansas took the lead in the second inning scoring six runs on three hits. Elisa Favela highlighted the inning when she hit a double to right center that scored three runs.

-         The Muleriders took an 8-0 lead in the sixth when Laina Suesue hit a single to right field that scored two runs.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Southern Arkansas had five hits in the game. Alese Casper led the Muleriders with two.

-         Harding had one hit.

-         Victoria Taylor got the win for Southern Arkansas and improves to 4-1 on the season. She threw five innings and struck out 12.

-         Aidan Nichols received the loss for Harding and falls to 3-3. She pitched 1 2/3 innings. Lily Tanski pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, didn't give up a hit and had one strikeout.

Up Next

-         The two teams will wrap up their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.