BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The Harding Lady Bisons needed eight innings to finish the job, but pulled off the 11-9 extra-innings victory over the Arkansas-Monticello Saturday in the Alvy Early/UAM Softball Classic.
Sophomore Jessica Bridges (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Harding (6-2). The right-hander went four innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing one walk and striking out four.
Offensively, the Lady Bisons were paced by junior Nicole Shano, who went 3-for-5 on the day with two home runs and six RBIs. Freshman Emma Curry  also had a home run, a walk and two RBIs. Sophomore Jordan Cabana also helped out for Harding, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Harding got an RBI single from Shano, scoring junior Hannah Garrett from third base.
The Lady Bisons lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 5-1. The Harding offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Curry, which tied the game at five.
Arkansas-Monticello busted up the tie and grabbed a 9-5 lead moving into the sixth, when Harding narrowed the gap to 9-8. The Lady Bisons scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Shano that scored sophomore Ashton Bryce and Garrett.
Harding kept the Boll Weevils off the board before tying it up in the seventh. The Lady Bisons scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Cabana, evening the score at 9-9.
In the eighth inning, Shano gave Harding the lead with a two-run homer.
GAME NOTES
» Shano drove in a career-high six runs for Harding. It tied the Harding school record for the most RBIs in a game and becomes the fourth Lady Bison to drive in six.
» It was the first time since 2019 a Harding player has hit multiple homeruns in a game. Mason McCord had two homeruns at Southeastern Oklahoma.
» Five Lady Bisons had multiple hits in the game.
» Garrett stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Harding went 5-for-15 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 44 Arkansas-Monticello hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out four.
» The Lady Bisons drew four walks from Arkansas-Monticello pitching.
» Shano led the Bisons at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs.
» Arkansas-Monticello was led offensively by senior Caroline Tedder, who went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Freshman Maguire Estill led the Boll Weevils pitching staff, throwing five innings of six-run ball.
Harding will wrap up the classic Sunday. The Lady Bisons will face Maryville at 11 a.m., and Pittsburg State at at 1 p.m.
