SEARCY – The Harding softball team split a doubleheader with East Central Sunday in Great American Conference action. The Lady Bisons shutout East Central 4-0 in the first game but lost the second game 4-2 in eight innings.
The two teams will decide the winner of the series Monday at 11 a.m., at the HU Softball Field.
Harding moves to 30-14 overall and 20-9 in the GAC.
East Central moves to 19-25 overall and 10-19 in the GAC.
GAME ONE (Harding 4, East Central 0)
Riley Price got the start for Harding and threw a complete game shutout. It was her fourth complete game of the season and her third shutout. Price improves to 16-8 on the season. She only gave up two hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter.
Macy Ham led Harding at the plate going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jordan Cabana and Chelsea Blankenship each drove in two runs in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding got on the board early. Jordan Cabana knocked in the first run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly to right field. Chelsea Blankenship got an RBI groundout to give Harding a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Bisons made it 3-0 in the fifth on an RBI double by Jordan Cabana.
Harding took a 4-0 lead in the sixth when Chelsea Blankenship hit a lead-off homer to center field. It was her fifth of the season.
GAME NOTES
- Harding outhit East Central 10-2. It was the 17th time this season the Lady Bisons have had 10 or more hits in a game.
- The Lady Bisons had five stolen bases in the game led by Macy Ham and Mariana Caro who each had two. It was the fifth time this season Harding had five or more stolen bases in a game.
- Taryn O'Brien received the loss for East Central. She falls to 4-8 on the season.
GAME TWO (East Central 4, Harding 2 (8))
Abby Burch started for Harding and went 5 2/3 innings. She gave up three hits, two earned runs and struck out two. Riley Price came in out of the pen and pitched 2 1/3 innings. She received the loss and falls to 16-9 overall.
Madison Fraley and Kaya Lee each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Harding.
HOW IT HAPPENED
East Central got on the board in the second inning on a solo home run by Megan Lesko.
Harding took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on two hits. Cameron Timmons scored on a wild pitch for the first run and Macy Ham hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Kaya Lee.
East Central tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Jami Watson.
In the eighth, the Tigers scored two runs on three hits to take the lead. East Central had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the inning.
East Central got three up three down in the bottom of the eighth to get the win.
GAME NOTES
- Harding outhit East Central 9-7.
- Mariana Caro had two stolen bases and is now four away from tying the school record. Payton Mills had 35 stolen bases in 2019.
- Taylor Spence got the win for East Central and improves to 8-9 on the season. She went the distance, gave up two earned runs and walked three.
