LAFAYETTE, La. – The Harding softball team dropped two games Sunday on the final day of the Mardis Gras Invitational. The Lady Bisons fell to No. 3 Central Oklahoma 10-1 in five and No. 24 Mississippi College 8-0 in five.
Harding falls to 2-2 on the season.
Central Oklahoma improves to 1-2 on the season and Mississippi College improves to 4-0.
GAME ONE (Central Oklahoma 10, Harding 1)
Harding starter Abby Burch received the loss after throwing 3 2/3 innings and giving up four earned runs. Riley Price, Sarah Philips and Cameron Timmons all came out of the pen for Harding.
Riley Price led Harding going 1-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Central Oklahoma took a 1-0 lead in the second when leadoff batter Jacee Minter hit a home run.
Harding tied the game in the third when Riley Price hit a solo homerun. It was her first of the season.
The Bronchos added two more runs in the fourth on two hits.
Central Oklahoma plated six runs on five hits in the fifth innings highlighted by two home runs.
GAME NOTES
- Five different Harding players had a hit in the game.
- Terin Ritz got the win for the Bronchos pitching four innings and giving up one earned run.
- Central Oklahoma had 12 hits by nine different players
- Jacee Minter led the Bronchos going 3-for-3 with two RBI's.
GAME TWO (Mississippi College 8, Harding 0)
Riley Price started for Harding and received the loss. She went 2 1/3 innings and gave up two earned runs. Abby Burch and Cameron Timmons each came out of the pen for Harding and pitched an inning.
Riley Price and Chelsea Blankenship each went 1-for-2 for Harding.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mississippi College took a 1-0 lead in the second on a leadoff homer by McCall Lee.
The Choctaws scored three runs on four hits and Harding error in the third inning.
Mississippi College scored three more runs in the fourth on four hits and a Harding error.
The Choctaws scored its final run in the fifth on a solo home run by Madison Jenkins.
GAME NOTES
- Harding was held to two hits in the game.
- Camryn Bailey got the win for the Mississippi College. She improves to 3-0. Bailey pitched four shutout innings.
- Nine different Choctaw players had a hit in the game.
NEXT UP
Harding will be back in action next weekend when it takes part in the Alvy Early UAM Softball Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Lady Bisons kick off the classic Friday against Northeastern State at 11 a.m., and Drury at 1:30 p.m.
