SEARCY, Ark. — Avery Booker tossed 6 1/3 strong innings with nine strikeouts to lead the 17th-ranked Harding softball team to a 5-2 win over Ouachita Baptist Saturday in Great American Conference action.
Harding improves to 17-3 overall and 5-1 in the GAC. It was the first conference series sweep of the season for the Lady Bisons.
Ouachita Baptist falls to 8-10 overall and 2-4 in the GAC.
Harding took control early, scoring four runs in the first inning behind a string of timely hits and Ouachita Baptist errors.
Ouachita Baptist cut the deficit in half with two runs in the fourth, highlighted by Katelyn Provence's two-run homer.
The Lady Bisons added an insurance run in the fifth, when Bailey Willis drove in Lana Danielson, who had doubled.
Booker (6-0) allowed two runs on 10 hits, striking out nine and walking one. Her strikeouts tied a season-high. Brooklyn Gobble earned her first save, retiring the only batter she faced.
Baylee King had three hits for Ouachita Baptist, while Harding had multiple hits from Kaya Lee, Emma Curry, Emaline Pearson, and Cameron Timmons.
Harding will be back in action Tuesday when it travels to Memphis, Tennessee to take on Christian Brothers in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
