SMYRNA, Tenn. – The Harding softball team got two wins to open the Music City Invitational Friday. The Lady Bisons won in a walk-off over Maryville, 6-5 and defeated Ferris State 15-8 in the second game.
Harding improves to 9-2 on the season.
Maryville falls to 4-6 and Ferris State falls to 0-1.
GAME 1 (Harding 6, Maryville 5)
Harding got the win in walk-off fashion. With Chelsea Blankenship at second and Brooke Johnson at third with one out, Kate Pierce pinch hit for the Lady Bisons. Pierce hit a soft chopper to the third and Johnson beat the throw home to give Harding the win.
Lily Tanski threw five innings of relief and got the win for Harding. She improves to 2-0 on the season. She gave up one run and struck out six batters.
Harding had seven players get a hit in the game with Leigha Harris going 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Bisons. Hanna Jones also had a home run and two RBI in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, Maryville scored four runs on five hits in the top of the second inning.
Harding got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Hannah Garrett hit a single that scored Chelsea Blankenship.
Maryville added another run in the third before Harding plated two in the bottom of the third.
The Lady Bisons tied the game in the fourth when Hanna Jones hit a two-run home run. It was her first of the season.
GAME NOTES
» Harding pitchers didn't allow a hit with two outs in the game.
» Maryville went 5-for-20 with runners on in the game.
» Each team left nine runners on base
GAME 2 (Harding 15, Ferris State 8)
Harding softball scored five runs in the first inning and didn't give up the lead the rest of the way.
Riley Price got the win for Harding to improve to 6-1. She threw six innings of relief and struck out four.
The Lady Bisons had 17 hits in the game with six players having multiple hits. Harding was led by Leigha Harris, Emma Curry and Macy Smith who each had three hits in the game. Curry and Chelsea Blankenship each had three RBIs in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding got things started with five runs on six hits in the first inning. Chelsea Blankenship highlighted the inning with a three-run homer to left center.
Ferris State answered back in the bottom of the first with three runs on two hits.
Harding added another run in the third and two in the fourth to lead 8-3.
Ferris State cut the deficit to two in the fourth scoring three runs on three hits.
The Lady Bisons took a 15-7 lead in the seventh scoring five runs on three hits. Emma Curry and Hannah Garrett each had two RBIs in the inning.
Ferris State added its final run in the seventh before Harding got out of the inning when Abby Burch got a strikeout.
GAME NOTES
» Harding went 12-of-27 (.444) with runners on base.
» The Lady Bisons went 9-of-22 (.409) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers got 10 fly outs and six ground outs in the game.
The Lady Bisons will continue the Invitational Saturday when they take on McKendree at 3 p.m., and Illinois Springfield at 5 p.m.
