SEARCY, Ark. — The Harding Lady Bisons struggled to find their rhythm on the opening day of the Alvy Early Softball Classic, dropping both games falling 11-0 to St. Mary's (TX) and a 13-1 against Washburn.
Game 1: St. Mary's 11, Harding 0 (5 Innings)
In the opener, St. Mary's used a powerful long-ball attack and a dominant performance in the circle by Emery Aguilar to hand the Lady Bisons a run-rule defeat.
The Rattlers (4-1) broke a scoreless tie in the second inning with a three-run surge, highlighted by an Emily Ayala two-run home run. They blew the game open in the third with five more runs, aided by two Harding errors and a solo blast from Raegan Tennill. Gabriela Banda capped the scoring in the fourth with a three-run homer to left field.
Harding (2-3) finished with six hits but was unable to string them together to cross the plate. Bailey Robinson led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double. Ella Friederich, Alexis Boswell, Bailey Willis, and Tori Turner each added a hit.
Brooklyn Gobble (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings of work. Aguilar earned the win for St. Mary's, tossing a complete-game shutout.
Game 2: Washburn 13, Harding 1 (6 Innings)
Washburn (1-0) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Ichabods capitalized on a pair of early walks and a passed ball, while Madi Moore and Maddie McGee delivered RBI singles to ignite the rally.
Harding got on the board in the second inning when Baylee McGregor launched a solo home run deep to left field, her first of her career. Washburn starter Kierra Goos held Harding to just five hits over five innings.
Washburn's Dalaney Anderson provided the knockout blow later in the game, hitting two-run home runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to finish with four RBIs. A three-error sixth inning for the Lady Bisons allowed the Ichabods to plate five unearned runs and extend the lead to 13-1.
Avery Booker (1-2) was charged with the loss, surrendering six runs in the first inning. Goos earned the victory for Washburn.
Harding will be back in action Saturday facing Texas Woman's at 11 a.m. and Emporia State at 1:30 p.m.
