SEARCY – The Harding softball team won both games of a Great American Conference doubleheader Friday against Arkansas-Monticello at the HU Softball Field. The Lady Bisons won 8-1 and 10-5.

Harding improves to 26-10 overall and 13-6 in the GAC.

Arkansas-Monticello falls to 16-20 overall and 10-9 in the GAC.

GAME 1

Freshman Emma Curry racked up four RBIs to help lead Harding over the Weevils 8-1 in game one.

Sophomore Maegan Pistokache (10-3) got the win for Harding. The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out three. Sophomore Abby Burch also pitched well, throwing one shutout inning while allowing one hit.

Curry went 2-for-4 with a home run in addition to her four RBIs for the Lady Bisons. Sophomore Jordan Cabana put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Leigha Harris also contributed for Harding, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lady Bisons took a 1-0 lead in the first when Emma Curry hit a single up the middle that scored Leigha Harris from third.

Arkansas-Monticello tied the game in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Harding scored seven runs on eight hits to take an 8-1 lead. Curry highlighted the inning with a three-run homer to left center. It was her eighth of the season. Hannah Garrett, Nicole Shano, Leigha Harris and Jordan Cabana also had RBIs in the inning.

GAME NOTES

» Curry drove in four runs for Harding. It was her 11th multiple RBI game of the season.
» Five Lady Bisons had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Boll Weevils 14-5.
» Harding went 7-for-14 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers limited Arkansas-Monticello to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 25 Arkansas-Monticello hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» Arkansas-Monticello was led offensively by freshman Averie Gunther, who went 2-for-3 with a double.

GAME 2

Sophomore Jordan Cabana racked up four hits to help power the Harding Lady Bisons over the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils 10-5 in game two.

Junior Lily Tanski (8-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Harding. The right-hander went five innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on nine hits, allowing no walks and striking out two.

Freshman Emma Curry also went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Senior Hanna Jones also had two hits in three trips to the plate while adding two doubles and a walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 2-0 in the first, Leigha Harris had an RBI ground out that scored Jones.

The Lady Bisons kept the Weevils off the board before tying it up in the second. Freshman Macy Smith came across to score the lone run of the inning.

Harding took a 5-2 lead in the third, scoring three on two hits.

Arkansas-Monticello battled back and tied the game in the fifth off a three-run home run.

Harding answered back in the bottom of the fifth when Hannah Garrett hit a two-RBI single to left field.

Lady Bisons made it 10-5 in the sixth scoring three runs on three hits.

GAME NOTES

» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Weevils 12-9.
» Harding went 7-for-19 (.368) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 30 Arkansas-Monticello hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» The Lady Bisons drew five walks from Arkansas-Monticello pitching.
» Arkansas-Monticello was led offensively by senior Haley Cornell, who went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs.

The two teams will wrap up their series Saturday with a single game at noon. Coverage links can be found on HardingSports.com.