TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Harding softball team wrapped up its weekend at the D2 Festival on Sunday, dropping a pair of tightly contested games to MIAA opponents. The Lady Bisons fell 5-2 to Fort Hays State before a late-inning rally fell just short in a 10-9 loss to No. 17 Missouri Southern State at RiverHawks Park.
Despite the two losses, the Harding offense showed significant life late in the day, plating seven runs in the final two innings against a nationally-ranked Lions squad.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 5, Harding 2
In the Sunday opener, Harding out-hit the Tigers 9-7 but was undone by a four-run fourth inning. Three Lady Bison errors in the frame allowed Fort Hays State to extend its lead to 5-0.
Harding finally broke through in the sixth. Lana Danielson and Bailey Robinson reached base to set the stage for Alexis Boswell, who laced a two-run double to left-center to cut the deficit to 5-2. However, the Lady Bisons could not pull any closer, leaving six runners on base in the contest.
Tori Turner led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4. Brooklyn Gobble (3-6) took the loss, allowing two earned runs in 3.1 innings. Avery Booker provided strong relief, striking out three and allowing no earned runs over the final 3.2 frames.
Game 2: No. 17 Missouri Southern 10, Harding 9
The finale featured a combined 25 hits and a wild back-and-forth finish. The Lions (14-1) appeared to have the game in hand after a solo home run by Emily Perry and an RBI double by Maddi Rolfs built an 8-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Harding (5-9) responded with a four-run sixth inning. Cameron Timmons and Bailey Willis each delivered RBI doubles, while Tori Turner added an RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Logan Ringel to score, cutting the lead to 8-6.
Missouri Southern added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to push the lead to 10-6, which proved vital. In the bottom half, the Lady Bisons mounted one last charge. With the bases loaded, Kyla Hill drew an RBI walk, and Ringel then did the same. Turner then reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Boswell, making it 10-9. With the tying run 60 feet away at third base, the Lions' Kadence Janney managed to induce a game-ending strikeout to escape with the save.
Turner again paced the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Willis finished 2-for-4. Jorja Wheeler (0-1) was tagged with the loss in her first decision of the year.
Up Next
Harding returns to Searcy for its home opener on Friday, Feb. 20. The Lady Bisons will begin Great American Conference play with a doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma starting at 4 p.m.
