BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team advanced to the semifinals of the Great American Conference Tournament Friday after defeating No. 7 seed Oklahoma Baptist 8-2. The Lady Bisons, the No. 2 seed, will take on Southeastern Oklahoma Saturday at 3 p.m., for a chance to play for the Tournament Championship that night at 7 p.m.  

The win marked the 15th straight win for Harding as it improves to 34-11 on the season.

Oklahoma Baptist ends its season with a 21-20 record.

Key Innings

-         B1 – Harding scored five runs on six hits and two errors. Nicole Shano highlighted the inning with a two-run home run down the left field line. It was her team leading eighth of the season. Jordan Cabana, Amanda Fields and Briley Feringa also had RBIs in the inning. (Harding 5, Oklahoma Baptist 0)

-         T5 – Cheyenne Demaree hit a single up the right field line to score the first run for Oklahoma Baptist. Shelby Savage scored the second run on an attempted double steal. (Harding 5, Oklahoma Baptist 2)

-         B6 – With runners at first and second, Chelsea Blankenship hit a three-run home down the right field line. It was her fourth of the season. (Harding 8, Oklahoma Baptist 2)

 
Key Statistics

-         Harding had 11 hits in the game with all starters getting a hit. Hanna Jones led the Lady Bisons going 3-for-4 at the plate. It is was her 14th multiple hit game of the season.

-         Nicole Shano's two RBIs mark the 11th time this season she has had a multiple RBI game. Chelsea Blankenship's three RBIs were her seventh game with multiple RBIs this season.

-         Oklahoma Baptist had seven hits in the game and were led by McKenna Anderson who went 3-for-4.

-         Lily Tanski, GAC Pitcher of the Year, got the win for Harding to improve to 22-6 on the season. It was also her 19th complete game of the season. She gave up two earned runs and struck out two.

-         Aspen Younce received the loss for Oklahoma Baptist and falls to 8-12 on the season.