SEARCY – The 13th-ranked Harding softball team had a shutout and a run rule in its doubleheader sweep over Delta State Tuesday in non-conference action Tuesday. The Lady Bisons defeated the Lady Statesmen 2-0 and 15-1 in five innings.
Harding improves to 31-4 overall and Delta State falls to 10-17.
GAME ONE – Harding 2, Delta State 0
Riley Price pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn her ninth win of the season, and No. 13 Harding softball shut out Delta State 2-0 on Tuesday.
The Lady Bisons' offense came alive in the second inning, as Cameron Timmons walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Willis. Alexis Boswell singled, and after a walk to Brooke Johnson, Macy Ham singled through the left side to score Timmons.
Harding added another run in the third inning, as Timmons reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Boswell.
Avery Booker started for Harding and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Price took over and allowed just three hits, while striking out one. Brooklyn Gobble earned her fourth save of the season.
Emma Enderud took the loss for Delta State, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings. Mary Teague had two hits for the Lady Statesmen, including a double in the fifth inning.
Delta State threatened in the seventh inning, as Teague walked and Calli McConnell singled to put runners at the corners. But Gobble struck out Kyleigh Wheaton to end the game.
GAME TWO – Harding 15, Delta State 1 (5 Innings)
The 13th-ranked Harding softball team exploded for 15 runs on 14 hits, defeating Delta State 15-1 in a five-inning contest on Tuesday.
Harding took an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs on a two RBI single by Emma Curry. Delta State responded in the second inning, scoring its lone run on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Way, plating Mattie Granberry, who had walked earlier in the inning.
The Lady Bisons pulled away in the second inning, scoring three runs on two hits, including a two-run single by Zoey Neal. Harding added five more runs in the third inning, taking advantage of two Delta State errors.
The Lady Bisons continued to pile on the runs, scoring five more in the fourth inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Emma Zaboronek. Avery Booker pitched a scoreless fifth inning to seal the victory.
Brooklyn Gobble (13-1) earned the win, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out three in four innings of work. Ellie Cox (3-4) took the loss for Delta State, surrendering 10 runs on nine hits in two innings.
Harding will be back in action later this week. The Lady Bisons will travel and take on Arkansas-Monticello for a three-game Great American Conference series. The two teams will play a doubleheader Thursday starting at 4 p.m., and then wrap up Friday at noon. The series was scheduled to play Friday and Saturday but was moved due to the weather forecast.
