SEARCY  – The Harding softball team swept both games of a Great American Conference doubleheader over Arkansas Tech Tuesday at the HU Softball Field. Lily Tanski threw the fourth no-hitter in program history as Harding won 1-0 in the first game. It took eight innings in the second game but Nicole Shano hit a walk-off two-run home run to center field to give Harding a 4-2 win.

It was Harding's first seven-inning no-hitter. The three other no-hitters came in five inning games. It was the first no-hitter since Jenna Hipp threw a no-hitter in 2019 in the GAC Tournament against Southern Nazarene.

It was Harding's fifth walk-off home run. The last time Harding won on a walk-off homerun was in 2019 when Briley Feringa hit a home run to defeat Ouachita Baptist 5-4.

Harding improves to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the GAC.

Arkansas Tech falls to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the GAC.

Game One Key Innings (Harding 1, Arkansas Tech 0)

-         B1 – After Makenzie Chappell walked and stole second, Hanna Jones hit a double down the left field line that scored Chappell. (Harding 1, Arkansas Tech 0)

 
Game One Key Statistics

-         Harding had two hits in the game, Chelsea Blankenship had the other hit.

-         Lily Tanski improves to 4-1 on the season. She struck out seven batters and had one walk against 23 batters faced.

-         Maddy Prough received the loss for Arkansas Tech and falls to 0-2 on the season.

 
Game Two Key Innings (Harding 4, Arkansas Tech 2)

-         T3 – Holly Crutchfield hit a double that scored Tymber Riley and Brooke Prewitt (Arkansas Tech 2, Harding 0)

-         B4 – Ashlyn Peterson singled in Hanna Jones from third and Faith Waugh scored on a passed ball. (Harding 2, Arkansas Tech 2)

-         B8 – Nicole Shano hit her first home run of the season to center field with Fraley at second. (Harding 4, Arkansas Tech 2)

 
Game Two Key Statistics

-         Each team had six hits.

-         Harding had six hits by six different players.

-         Holly Crutchfield and McKenzie Harrish each had two hits for Arkansas Tech.

-         Jessica Bridges got the win for Harding to improve to 2-0. She threw the complete game, gave up two earned runs and struck out four.

-         Lexy Taylor received the loss for Arkansas Tech and falls to 1-1 on the season. She threw 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Up Next

-         The Lady Bisons will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to take on Henderson State in a three-game GAC series Friday and Saturday.