SEARCY – The Harding softball team handed Southern Nazarene a 5-3 loss Saturday in the final game of their three-game Great American Conference series. It was the regular season finale for both teams.
Before the game, Harding honored seniors Chelsea Blankenship, Ashton Bryce, Abby Burch, Jordan Cabana, Madison Fraley and Tedi Nunn for their contributions to the softball program.
The game was delayed in the fourth inning and lasted an hour and half due to storms in the Searcy area.
After Friday's GAC results, Harding will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GAC Tournament May 2-4 in the Bentonville, Arkansas. With the new tournament format, Harding will have a bye and will play the winner of the Southeastern Oklahoma (No. 6 seed) and Arkansas-Monticello (No. 7 seed) game at 6 p.m., at the Tiger Athletic Complex.
Harding improves to 33-17 overall and 22-11 in the GAC.
Southern Nazarene falls to 36-15 overall and 25-8 in the GAC.
Abby Burch started and went three innings for Harding. Sarah Philips came in the fourth and earned the win and improves to 2-0 on the season. Riley Price picked up her fifth save of the season pitching two innings of relief. She gave up one hit and no runs.
Harding had seven hits in the game by seven different players. Mariana Caro scored two of Harding's runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Southern Nazarene got on the board in the first scoring a run on two hits.
Harding answered back in the bottom of the first scoring two runs on three hits and two Southern Nazarene errors. Mariana Caro and Jordan Cabana both scored on errors.
Harding made it 4-1 in the second on two hits and a Crimson Storm error. Tori Turner hit a double for the first run and then she scored on a wild pitch.
Southern Nazarene got a run back in the fourth on an RBI single by Hailey Evans.
The Crimson Storm pulled within one, 4-3 in the fifth on an RBI single by Macy Stewart.
Harding scored an insurance run in the fifth on a hit and an error. Mariana Caro scored the run for the Lady Bisons.
Southern Nazarene had runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the seventh but couldn't produce a run.
GAME NOTES
- Southern Nazarene outhit Harding 13-7.
- The Crimson Storm left 12 runners on base.
- Harding had three stolen bases in the game.
- Katelyn Woodard started for Southern Nazarene and took the loss. She falls to 3-4 on the season.
- Sydney Sundbye led the Crimson Storm at the plate going 3-for-4.
