MONTICELLO, Ark. – The 13th-ranked Harding softball team split its Great American Conference doubleheader at Arkansas-Monticello Saturday. The Blossoms won the first game 9-2 before the Lady Bisons won the second game 3-1.
Harding moves to 19-5 overall and 6-3 in the GAC.
Arkansas-Monticello moves to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the GAC.
GAME ONE (Arkansas-Monticello 9, Harding 2)
Lily Tanski received her first loss of the season and falls to 6-1 on the season. Tanski went four innings and had five strikeouts. Abby Burch came out of the bullpen, throwing two shutout innings. She didn't allow a hit and had four strikeouts.
Hanna Jones led Harding at the plate going 3-for-4 a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons got on the board in the first inning on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Riley Price.
Arkansas-Monticello took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first on three hits.
Harding made it 3-2 in the fourth when Hanna Jones singled in Madison Fraley.
The Blossoms answered back with five runs on six hits in the fourth inning and then took a 9-2 lead in the fifth scoring a run.
GAME NOTES
» Harding pitchers faced 33 Arkansas-Monticello hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and six fly balls while striking out nine.
» Arkansas-Monticello was led offensively by Kenndy Cox, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI.
» Maguire Estill came in out of bullpen to get the win for the Blossoms, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings. She improves to 4-3 on the season.
GAME TWO (Harding 3, Arkansas-Monticello 1)
Maegan Pistokache got the win for Harding to improve to 3-1 on the season. It was her first complete game of the season. She didn't give up an earned run and struck out seven.
In the batter's box, the Lady Bisons were led by Hanna Jones, who went 2-for-3 on the day with two RBI. Chelsea Blankenship also went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding took an early lead in the first inning when Chelsea Blankenship hit a single that scored Nicole Shano from second.
Arkansas-Monticello tied the game in the bottom of the first.
The Lady Bisons broke the tie in the fifth when Hanna Jones hit a single up the middle that scored two runs.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Boll Weevils at a 6-3 clip.
» Harding pitchers faced 26 Arkansas-Monticello hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out seven.
» Arkansas-Monticello was led offensively by Adrianna Erichsen, who went 1-for-2.
» Kayla Olthouse received the loss for the Blossom and falls to 2-2 on the season.
Harding will be back in action Tuesday when it hosts Arkansas Tech in a midweek Great American Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
