TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Harding softball team pushed No. 7 Central Oklahoma to the limit Friday, but a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning allowed the Bronchos to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning victory at the D2 Festival.
The Lady Bisons (4-6) held a three-run lead late in the game, but the nationally-ranked Bronchos (9-3) rallied to force extras and ultimately snap Harding's bid for the upset.
How it Happened
Central Oklahoma jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Haley Gallo and an RBI single by Jenna Jobe. Harding's bats came alive in the third, sparked by a sacrifice fly from Zoey Neal that scored Bailey Willis. Ella Friederich then cleared the fences with a two-run home run to left field, her second of the season, to give the Lady Bisons a 3-2 lead.
After UCO tied the game in the top of the fourth, Harding regained control in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and two outs, Neal delivered a massive three-run double down the left-field line, scoring Tori Turner, Willis, and Avery Booker to push the lead to 6-3.
The Bronchos mounted a comeback in the sixth, taking advantage of a costly Harding error. Three unearned runs crossed the plate, including a game-tying RBI single by Kennedy Clark, to knot the score at 6-6.
Neither team could break the deadlock in the seventh, leading to the international tie-breaker in the eighth. UCO's Rylee Anglen was placed on second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rylee Lemos. Harding was unable to answer in the bottom half of the frame, as Shelby Beard retired the side to secure the win for the Bronchos.
Stats of the Game
· Top Hitters: Tori Turner continued her hot streak, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Zoey Neal provided the bulk of the power with four RBIs on a 1-for-3 day. Ella Friederich went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run.
· In the Circle: Avery Booker started and went 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits. Brooklyn Gobble (3-5) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings of work.
· Defense: Harding finished with seven hits but was hampered by two defensive errors that led to four unearned runs for UCO.
Up Next
Harding continues play at the D2 Festival on Saturday with a doubleheader. The Lady Bisons will face Northeastern State at 11 a.m., followed by a matchup with Washburn at 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available on HardingSports.com.
