SEARCY – Hanna Jones hit a home run in each game to lead the Harding softball team to a sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma Friday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons shutout the Bulldogs in game one 2-0 and won by a run-rule in game two 9-1 in five innings.
Jones' second home run on the day came in the second inning of game two when she hit a deep fly ball to left center that stayed in the park. It was the second inside-the-park home run in Harding history. Amanda Fields hit the first one at Arkansas Tech in 2018.
Harding improves to 34-16 overall and 20-9 in the GAC.
Southwestern Oklahoma falls to 9-29 overall and 8-21 in the GAC.
GAME 1
Junior Lily Tanski and sophomore Abby Burch combined to toss a shutout in game one.
Tanski (12-7) started and picked up the win for Harding, going five shutout innings while giving up three hits, walking one, and striking out two. Burch was dealing out of the bullpen as well, going two shutout innings, allowing one hit. It was her fifth save of the season.
Senior Hanna Jones led the way offensively for the Lady Bisons, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Sophomore Chelsea Blankenship also went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons took a 2-0 lead in the third inning scoring two runs on three hits. Hanna Jones hit solo home run for the first run and Chelsea Blankenship hit a single to left field that scored Macy Smith.
GAME NOTES
» Tanski and Burch combined to throw a four-hit shutout.
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Bulldogs at a 5-4 clip.
» Harding pitchers faced 25 Southwestern Oklahoma State hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out two.
» Southwestern Oklahoma was led offensively by senior Jewell Lee, who went 2-for-3.
» Senior Alisa Friesen received the loss for the Bulldogs and falls to 6-14 overall.
GAME 2
Senior Hanna Jones racked up four RBIs to help power the Harding Lady Bisons past the Southwestern Oklahoma 9-1 in game two in five innings.
Sophomore Maegan Pistokache (12-7) got the win for Harding. The right-hander went five innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out two.
Jones went 2-for-3 with a triple, a inside-the-park home run and a walk. It was her first four RBI performance of the season. Sophomore Ashton Bryce also went 1-for-1 with a triple and an RBI. Freshman Leigha Harris also had two hits and two RBI in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Lady Bisons scored three runs on five hits in the second inning. Ashton Bryce knocked in the first run when she hit a triple down the right field line. Hanna Jones then hit the inside-the-park home run to make it 3-1.
Harding made it 7-1 in the third scoring four runs on four hits. Hannah Garrett hit a single through the left side that scored the first run. Hanna Jones added two more runs when she hit a triple to left center. Nicole Shano knocked in the fourth run when she hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
With the bases loaded in the fifth, Leigha Harris hit a single through the right side that scored Hanna Jones and Hanna Garrett to give Harding the victory.
GAME NOTES
» Six Lady Bisons had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Bulldogs at a 13-4 clip.
» Harding went 7-for-10 (.700) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 20 Southwestern Oklahoma State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» Southwestern Oklahoma was led offensively by sophomore Dani Carmo, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
» Junior Brianna Cryer received the loss in the circle and falls to 3-14 overall.
The two teams will wrap up their series with a single game at noon Saturday.
Gallery: (4-22-2022) Softball vs. Southwestern Okla. - Day 1
