DURANT, Okla. – Chelsea Blankenship hit three home runs but it was enough as the Harding softball team fell at Southeastern Oklahoma 10-9 in eight innings Friday in Great American Conference action.
Blankenship's three home runs set a new school record for the most in a game. She also drove in six in the game which was the second most in a game in Harding history. Leigha Harris drove in seven in a game in 2022.
Harding falls to 26-13 overall and 16-8 in the GAC.
Southeastern Oklahoma improves to 23-19 overall and 15-10 in the GAC.
Riley Price started and then reentered in the seventh for Harding. She received the loss and falls to 14-8 overall. Price went five innings, gave up four earned runs and had a strikeout. Abby Burch pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief. She gave up three earned runs and struck out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding jumped on the board in the first inning when Chelsea Blankenship hit a three-run home run to left field.
Southeastern Oklahoma got a run back in the third on two hits and a Harding error.
The Lady Bisons made it 5-1 in the fifth on back-to-back home runs. Emma Curry led off the inning with a home run to left center. It was her eighth of the season. Chelsea Blankenship then hit her second home run of the game to left center.
The Savage Storm scored three runs on four hits in the fifth inning.
Harding made it 8-4 in the sixth scoring three runs on two hits. Mariana Caro scored on a wild pitch for the first run and Chelsea Blankenship hit a two-run home run to left field. It was her fourth home run of the season.
Southeastern Oklahoma tied the game in the seventh scoring four runs on five hits. The Savage Storm hit two home runs in the inning.
The Lady Bisons scored the go-ahead run in the eighth when Lana Danielson hit a single to the shortstop that scored Emma Curry.
With one out and runners at second and third, Emily Simmons hit a single through the left side that scored both runners to win it for Southeastern Oklahoma.
GAME NOTES
- Southeastern Oklahoma outhit Harding 16-13.
- It was the 15th time this season the Lady Bisons have had over 10 hits in a game.
- Four different Harding players had multiple hits in the game.
- Emma Curry and Chelsea Blankenship each scored three runs for Harding.
- Alyson Malone pitched two innings of relief and earned the win for the Savage Storm. She improves to 4-2 on the season.
- Sabetha Sands led Southeastern Oklahoma at the plate going 3-for-4.
NEXT UP
The two teams will wrap up their series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.
