BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team won both of their games Saturday on the second day of the Alvy Early/UAM Softball Classic. The Lady Bisons set a new school record with 20 hits in its 18-1 win over Missouri-St. Louis in the first game. Harding continued its winning ways as it run-ruled Central Missouri 9-1 to close out the day.
Harding improves to 8-1 on the season.
Game One – Harding 18, Missouri-St. Louis 1 (5 Inn.)
Harding softball exploded for 18 runs on a school record 20 hits to defeat Missouri-St. Louis 18-1 in a run-rule shortened game on Saturday.
The Lady Bisons (7-1) scored five runs in the first inning, capitalizing on two Tritons errors. Kaya Lee singled and stole second, then Jadyn Booth singled and stole second as well. Zoey Neal reached on an error, allowing Lee to score, and Neal stole second and advanced to third on another error, allowing Booth to score.
Harding added nine more runs in the second inning, highlighted by Booth's two-run homer and Emaline Pearson's grand slam. It was Pearson's first collegiate home run. The Lady Bisons took advantage of two more Tritons errors in the inning.
Avery Booker earned the win for Harding, pitching three scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Cameron Timmons pitched the final two innings, allowing one unearned run.
Zoey Neal added a three-run homer in the fourth inning for Harding, which also got multiple hits from Macy Ham, Kaya Lee, Jadyn Booth, Alexis Boswell and Avery Booker.
Courtney Settles drove in the lone run for the Tritons (2-5) with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Sasha Buckberger took the loss for Missouri-St. Louis, allowing 11 runs on nine hits in 1.1 innings.
Game Two – Harding 9, Central Missouri 1 (5 Inn.)
Jadyn Booth and Zoey Neal each drove in four runs to lead Harding to a 9-1 victory over Central Missouri on Saturday.
The game was decided early, as Harding (8-1) scored three runs in the first inning. Macy Ham singled and stole second, then scored along with Kaya Lee on Booth's two-run double. Bailey Willis added an RBI single to make it 3-0.
Central Missouri (2-1) scored its only run in the top of the first, as Lexi Blackmon doubled and scored on a stolen base and throwing error.
Harding added three more runs in the second inning, capped by Neal's three-run homer. The Lady Bisons sealed the win with three more runs in the fourth inning, with Booth driving in two more runs with a double.
Brooklyn Gobble (4-0) pitched four innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six, to earn the win for Harding. Riley Price pitched a scoreless fifth inning to close out the game.
Brooke Weimer (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings. Andi Siebeneck pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief for Central Missouri.
Due to expected weather in Bentonville Sunday, Harding will only play one game against Upper Iowa at noon.
