CONROE, Texas – The Harding softball fell to the No. 22 ranked Texas A&M-Commerce Lions by a final of 4-2 Sunday in the final game of the Arkansas Tech Invitational.
Harding falls to 3-2 on the season. The Lady Bisons are 1-2 against ranked opponents this season. Their win came against No. 15 Oklahoma Christian 3-0.
Junior Lily Tanski (2-1) received the loss for Harding. The right-hander went six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out six.
Nicole Shano led the way offensively for the Lady Bisons, going 1-for-3 in the game with a double. Sophomore Chelsea Blankenship also went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-0, the Lady Bisons first put a run on the board in the fourth inning. Harding got an RBI single from Blankenship, scoring freshman Macy Smith from second base.
The Lady Bisons kept the deficit at 3-1 before closing the gap further in the fifth. Junior Hannah Garrett came across to score the lone run of the inning for Harding, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Lions. The Lady Bisons were unable to get any closer, as Texas A&M-Commerce added one run to their tally on the way to a 4-2 final.
GAME NOTES
» Harding pitchers faced 27 Texas A&M-Commerce hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out six.
» Texas A&M-Commerce was led offensively by sophomore Ayanna Williams, who went 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
» Senior Destiny Vasquez led the Lions pitching staff, throwing a complete game.
The Lady Bisons will be back in action next weekend when they take part in the Alvy Early Softball Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas. Harding opens the classic Friday at 11 a.m., against Emporia State.
