HUNTSVILLE, Ala.  – The Harding softball team got two wins Saturday and move to 4-0 for the first time since 2017 when Harding went to the NCAA Super Regionals. The Lady Bisons closed the Charger Chillout hosted by Alabama-Huntsville with an 8-4 win over West Alabama and an 8-0 win over No. 10 Trevecca Nazarene.

The last time Harding defeated a ranked opponent was last season when the Lady Bisons defeated then ranked No. 15 Cameron 4-3. The Lady Bisons are 16-21 against ranked opponents.

West Alabama falls to 1-2 overall.

Trevecca Nazarene falls to 0-4 overall.

Game One Key Innings (Harding 8, West Alabama 4)

-         West Alabama got on the board first in the first inning scoring a run off two hits and a Harding error.

-         Harding tied the game in the bottom of the first when Nicole Shano had a RBI ground out.

-         West Alabama added two more runs on two hits in the second when Kacy Nolan singled in a pair.

-         The Lady Bisons tied the game at three in the third, scoring two runs on three hits. Ashton Bryce hit a single through the left side that scored Makenzie Chappell and Madison Fraley.

-         West Alabama scored its final run of the game in the fourth on two hits and a Harding error.

-         Harding blew the game open in the fifth scoring five runs on six hits. Amanda Fields highlighted the inning when she singled in two runs. Chappell, Bryce and Chelsea Blankenship all had a RBI in the inning.

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Harding had 13 hits in the game led by Makenzie Chappell who went 4-for-4 with a RBI. Ashton Bryce and Chelsea Blankenship also had two hits.

-         West Alabama had 10 hits in the game by seven different players.

-         Jessica Bridges got the win for Harding, pitching 5 2/3 innings of relief. She gave up seven hits, no earned runs and struck out two.

-         Kamree Lay got the loss for West Alabama.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 8, Trevecca Nazarene 0)

-         With the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Chelsea Blankenship hit a bases clearing double to give Harding a 3-0 lead.

-         Up 4-0, Harding added another run in the sixth when Jordan Cabana doubled in Blankenship from second.

-         The Lady Bisons made it 8-0 in the seventh scoring three runs on three hits and a Trevecca Nazarene Error. Amanda Fields highlighted the inning with a two-run home run. It was her first of the season.

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Harding had 12 hits, led by Chelsea Blankenship who went 3-for-4. Ashton Bryce, Nicole Shano and Jordan Cabana each had two hits.

-         It was the Lady Bisons second shutout of the season as they held West Alabama to four hits.

-         Lily Tanski got her second shutout after going the distance. She also had five strikeouts.

-         Alex Behnke received the loss for Trevecca Nazarene in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Up Next

-         Harding will have the week off before hosting its Invitational Feb. 19-21 at Harding Softball Field.