SEARCY – The 20th-ranked Harding softball team swept Ouachita Baptist in a Great American Conference doubleheader Friday. The Lady Bisons shutout the Tigers in the first game 3-0 and won the second game 3-1.
Abby Burch had a save in both games to break the Harding single season saves record. Burch broke Emma Dwyer's record who had 12 saves during the 2019 season.
Win the game one win, Harding head coach Ashley Reeves picked up her 100th career victory.
Harding improves to 32-9 overall and 17-5 in the GAC.
Ouachita Baptist falls to 10-29 overall and 4-18 in the GAC.
GAME ONE (Harding 3, Ouachita Baptist 0)
Sophomore Riley Price and junior Abby Burch combined to toss a shutout in game one. Price (15-3) started and picked up the win, going 6 1/3 innings while giving up three hits, walking one, and striking out five.
At the plate, the Lady Bisons were led by senior Madison Fraley who went 3-for-3. Riley Price went 1-for-3 in the game with a home run. Sophomore Leigha Harris also contributed for Harding, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Riley Price got the scoring started for Harding in the second when she led off the inning with a homer to center. It was her first of the season. Nicole Shano also had an RBI in the inning when she hit a sacrifice fly to right.
Harding's third run came in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Leigha Harris.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Tigers at a 7-3 clip.
» Harding pitchers limited Ouachita Baptist to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 24 Ouachita Baptist hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out five.
» Ouachita Baptist was led offensively by freshman Madyson Shoebottom, who went 2-for-3.
» Sophomore Tuesday Melton received the loss for Ouachita Baptist and falls to 8-15 on the season.
GAME TWO (Harding 3, Ouachita Baptist 1)
Senior Lily Tanski was dominant on Friday, punching out a season-high 11 Ouachita Baptist hitters over six innings of work. In addition to her 11 strikeouts, Tanski (10-3) tossed six innings, giving up one run on three hits and walking none. Junior Abby Burch broke the Harding season save record, throwing one shutout inning while allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.
At the plate, the Lady Bisons were led by sophomore Emma Curry, who went 2-for-2 on the day with a walk and two RBI. Junior Jordan Cabana also had two hits in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bisons took a 2-0 lead in the first off three hits. Emma Curry hit a single through the left side that scored Nicole Shano and Leigha Harris.
Ouachita Baptist got a run back in the sixth when Erin Williams hit a double to right center that scored Hope Waid.
Harding added an insurance run in the sixth when Kate Pierce hit a pinch hit sac fly to left that scored Jordan Cabana.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Bisons out-hit the Tigers at an 8-4 clip.
» Harding pitchers faced 27 Ouachita Baptist hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Lady Bisons left eight runners on base.
» Ouachita Baptist was led offensively by junior Erin Williams, who went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Maggi Huddleston started for Ouachita Baptist and took the loss to fall to 1-11 on the season.
The two teams will wrap up their series Saturday with a single game starting at noon.
