SEARCY, Ark. — The Harding softball team split a Great American Conference doubleheader against Southern Nazarene on Sunday afternoon at Lindy Lunceford Ingram Field, behind a dominant one-hit shutout from Brooklyn Gobble in the opener before falling in a narrow pitcher's duel in the nightcap.
The split moves Harding to 24-16 overall and 19-7 in GAC play, while Southern Nazarene stands at 25-23 overall and 15-11 in conference action.
Between games, Harding honored seniors Bailey Willis, Kate Pierce and Zoey Neal for their contributions to the Harding softball program.
Game 1: Harding 4, Southern Nazarene 0
Junior Brooklyn Gobble (16-11) turned in one of the most dominant performances of the season, carrying a no-hitter into the third inning and finishing with a complete-game one-hit shutout. Gobble struck out five and allowed only a single hit to SNU's Kristen Mullendore.
Harding's offense provided all the support Gobble would need in the fourth inning when Ella Friederich launched a solo home run to center field, her fourth of the season, to break a scoreless tie.
The Lady Bisons broke the game open in the sixth. With runners at second and third, Lana Danielson delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 2-0. Kate Pierce came through with a clutch two-run pinch-hit single to right field, scoring Danielson and Gobble to provide the 4-0 final margin.
Harding out-hit the Crimson Storm 8-1 in the opener, led by multi-hits from Friederich and Danielson.
Game 2: Southern Nazarene 2, Harding 1
The second game turned into a defensive struggle as Southern Nazarene's Olivia Hernandez (9-8) limited Harding to just three hits in a complete-game victory.
The Crimson Storm took an early lead in the first inning when Adyson Gaddis reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Mullendore. Harding answered in the third after Payton Alexander reached on an error and Logan Ringel singled. Zoey Neal then laced an RBI single up the middle to knot the game at 1-1.
The decisive run came in the top of the fifth. SNU's Natalie Gowan singled and eventually scored when Ciena Perez reached on a Harding throwing error.
Avery Booker (8-4) took the loss for Harding, allowing one earned run on just two hits over 4.1 innings. Jorja Wheeler provided 2.2 innings of perfect relief with two strikeouts.
Up Next
The two teams will decide the series Monday at noon.
