BENTONVILLE, Ark. – With two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Leigha Harris hit her first career grand slam as the Harding softball team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 8-6 Saturday in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament.

The Lady Bisons, the No. 3 seed, advance to the semifinals of the tournament and will take on No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas Sunday at 1:30 p.m., with a chance to play in the finals later that night at 6 p.m.

Harris' grand slam was the first in program history in the GAC Tournament and the first grand slam of the season.

Harding improves to 38-17 overall and Southeastern Oklahoma ends its season with a 30-25 record.

Sophomore Maegan Pistokache (13-7) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Harding. The right-hander went 4.2 innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on seven hits. Sophomore Abby Burch also made an impact in the circle for the Lady Bisons, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing no hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. It was her seventh save of the season.

Emma Curry went 2-for-3 at the plate, supplementing her two home runs with three RBIs. Freshman Leigha Harris also went 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. It was the most RBI's by a player in the GAC Tournament in school history. Senior Hanna Jones also helped out for the Lady Bisons, going 2-for-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Southeastern Oklahoma started the game scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the first inning.

Harding answered back in the bottom of the first scoring three runs on three hits. Leigha Harris drove in Harding's first run when she hit a single down the right field line to score Hanna Jones. Emma Curry then hit a two-run home run to left field.

In the next inning, Harding took an 8-4 lead scoring five runs on three hits. Leigha Harris highlighted the inning with a grand slam to center field. The next batter, Emma Curry, made it back-to-back when she also homered to center field.

Southeastern Oklahoma got two runs back in the third with two hits.

GAME NOTES

» The Lady Bisons got two home runs off the bat of Curry. It was the first time a Harding player has hit two home runs in a GAC Tournament game.
» Harding hitters hit three home runs in the ballgame.
» Harding went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 33 Southeastern Oklahoma hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out three.
» Southeastern Oklahoma was led offensively by sophomore Marilyn Alvarado, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Junior Cheyenne Mahy received the loss for Southeastern Oklahoma and falls to 15-9 on the season.