BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The 23rd-ranked Harding softball team opened Great American Conference Tournament play with a decisive 9-1 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma in six innings Thursday at Bentonville West High School.

Harding advances and will take on No. 1 seed Southern Arkansas at 1 p.m., Friday in the semifinals of the GAC Tournament at Bentonville High School.

Kaya Lee led the Lady Bisons' offense, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Zoey Neal added two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Jadyn Booth also had a double and an RBI for Harding. Emma Curry provided the big blow with a grand slam in the fifth inning. It was her sixth home run of the season and her first career grand slam. It was Harding's fifth grand slam of the season.

Brooklyn Gobble earned the win in the circle for Harding (39-15), allowing one run on seven hits while striking out three in six innings. Gobble improves to 17-6 on the season.

Sabetha Sands scored the lone run for Southeastern Oklahoma (26-27). Emily Simmons had an RBI single, and Iliana Olivares and Laci Larsen each contributed a double for the Savage Storm. Trinity Oden took the loss, surrendering seven runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. She falls to 8-5 on the season.