EDMOND, Okla. --The 18^th-ranked Harding softball team fell 4-1 to 4^th-ranked Central Oklahoma in the finals of the NCAA Central Region One Tournament Saturday.

Central Oklahoma advances on and will host the NCAA Central Super Regionals next week in Edmond. The Bronchos, the No. 1 seed in the region, will host No. 6 seed Southern Arkansas.

Harding ends its season with a 46-14 record. It was the second most wins in a season by the Lady Bisons and they made their second appearance in the NCAA Central Region One Finals. Harding won 58 games and won the region in 2017.

Senior Lily Tanski started and received the loss. She ends the season with a 14-6 record. Sophomore Riley Price came out of the pen and pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Senior Nicole Shano led the way offensively for the Lady Bisons, going 1-for-3 with a home run. Senior Hanna Jones also went 1-for-2 with a double. Junior Jordan Cabana also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Harding.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On the fourth pitch of the game Rylee Lemos hit a home run to right field to give Central Oklahoma a 1-0 lead.

The Bronchos made it 4-0 in the fourth on four hits. Terin Ritz knocked in two runs with the bases loaded and Shayleigh Odom knocked in another run when she hit a double to left center.

Nicole Shano led off the bottom of the seventh inning and hit a solo home run to left field for her 200^th career hit.

GAME NOTES

» Lily Tanski faced her 1800^th career batter in the game.
» Harding left five runners on base.
» Harding pitchers faced 28 Central Oklahoma hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out three.
» Central Oklahoma was led offensively by freshman Rylee Lemos, who went 1-for-4 with a home run.
» Central Oklahoma outhit Harding 6-4.
» Terin Ritz led the Bronchos to the win in the circle and improves to 24-1 on the season. She allowed four hits and struck out three.