ARKADELPHIA, Ark. –The 20th-ranked Harding softball team completed the series sweep Sunday defeated Henderson State 6-3 in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons won both games of the doubleheader Saturday.
Nicole Shano hit her 32nd career home run in sixth inning to break the Harding career home run record. She was tied with Peyton Mills who hit 31 between 2016-19.
Harding improves to 29-8 overall and 15-5 in the GAC. The Lady Bisons are in a three-way tie with Oklahoma Baptist and Southeastern Oklahoma for first place in the GAC standings.
Henderson State falls to 15-21 overall and 7-13 in the GAC.
Sophomore Riley Price came in relief to earn the win for Harding. She threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing two hits, with no walks and one strikeout. She is now 13-3 on the season. Abby Burch came in seventh to pick up the save. It was her NCAA Division II leading 11th save of the season.
At the plate, the Lady Bisons were paced by senior Hanna Jones, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Sophomore Emma Curry also chipped in for Harding, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding two RBI. It was her third three hit game this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by Chelsea Blankenship and Emma Curry.
The Lady Bisons made it 4-0 in the second scoring two runs on three hits. Hanna Jones knocked in the first run and Riley Price hit into a fielder's choice that scored Macy Smith from third.
Henderson State got two runs back in the third on three hits.
Harding added another run in the fourth when Emma Curry hit a single to left that scored Hanna Jones from third.
The Reddies scored their final run in the fourth on two hits.
Nicole Shano pinch hit to lead off the fifth inning for Harding. On a 2-2 count she hit the record-breaking home run to left field.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Reddies at an 11-6 clip.
» It was Nicole Shano's team-high sixth home run of the season.
» Harding went 7-for-16 (.438) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 32 Henderson State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out three.
» Henderson State was led offensively by senior Abbie Moore, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.
» Savannah Carrigan received the loss in the circle for Henderson State to fall to 3-5 on the season.
Harding will be back in action Tuesday when it plays is final regular season non-conference game at home against Union. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
