MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Harding softball team dropped both games of the Great American Conference doubleheader Saturday at Southern Arkansas. The Lady Bisons fell 5-3 and 4-3.
Harding falls to 28-13 overall and 15-9 in the GAC.
Southern Arkansas improves to 25-12 overall and 18-4 in the GAC.
GAME ONE
Freshman Leigha Harris collected two extra base hits, but the Harding Lady Bisons fell to the Southern Arkansas Muleriders 5-3 in game one Saturday.
Sophomore Maegan Pistokache (10-4) started and took the loss in the circle for Harding. She threw 2.2 innings and struck out two.
Harris' two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-3 day, and included a double, a home run and two RBI. Freshman Emma Curry also went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons made it 2-0 in the top of the first when Harris hit a two-run home run. It was her seventh of the season.
Southern Arkansas took a 3-2 lead scoring a run in the first, the second and third innings.
The Muleriders made it 5-2 in the fourth on a two-run home run.
Harding got a run back in the sixth when Emma Curry hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Macy Smith.
GAME NOTES
» Harding pitchers faced 30 Southern Arkansas hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and five fly balls while striking out four.
» Southern Arkansas was led offensively by senior Tiare Lee, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
» Sydney Ward got the win for the Muleriders to improve to 11-3. She threw five innings and struck out five. Baylie Thornhill came on and got the save, pitching two innings in relief.
GAME TWO
Game two was close until the sixth inning when Southern Arkansas took the lead for good and went on to win 4-3.
Junior Lily Tanski (9-6) started and took the loss. She pitched 5.1 innings and struck out four.
At the plate, the Lady Bisons were led by junior Nicole Shano, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Sophomore Jordan Cabana also went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding took a 1-0 lead in the first when Nicole Shano hit her team-leading 14th home run of the season.
Southern Arkansas answered back with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third.
With Chelsea Blankenship at second, Jordan Cabana tied the game for Harding with her third home run of the season.
Southern Arkansas broke the tie in the sixth on an RBI double.
GAME NOTES
» Harding pitchers faced 27 Southern Arkansas hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out five.
» Southern Arkansas was led offensively by sophomore Jaxynn Dyson, who hit the three-run home run in the third inning.
» Senior Baylie Thornhill got the win for Southern Arkansas to improve to 2-2 on the season. She threw three innings of relief and had four strikeouts.
Harding will be back in action Tuesday when it hosts Delta State in a non-conference doubleheader at the HU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
