CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Harding softball team struggled to find its rhythm offensively Tuesday, dropping a non-conference doubleheader to Rogers State by scores of 5-1 and 3-0 at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.
The losses moved the Lady Bisons to 24-22 overall on the season.
Game 1: Rogers State 5, Harding 1
Rogers State (31-16) jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Baylee King stole home as part of a double steal. Harding answered in the top of the second after Lana Danielson walked and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Bailey Willis to tie the game at 1-1.
However, the Hillcats reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Halle Bucktrot. RSU added insurance runs in the fourth on a Harding error and in the fifth via a Saylor Brown RBI double.
Harding was held to just two hits in the contest—singles by Logan Ringel and Ella Friederich. Avery Booker took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings. Harley Culie earned the win for RSU, tossing a complete game and striking out three.
Game 2: Rogers State 3, Harding 0
The second game featured a pitcher's duel between Harding's Brooklyn Gobble and RSU's Kinsley Hill. Gobble was dominant through the first four frames, but the Hillcats finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth when Mariah Belzer hit a two-run home run to left-center. Jaden Jordan added a solo home run in the sixth to provide the final 3-0 margin.
Despite the loss, Gobble struck out eight batters and allowed only three hits—two of which were the home runs. Hill earned the shutout victory for the Hillcats, limiting the Lady Bisons to three hits and walking three.
Bailey Willis led the Harding offense going 2-for-3, while Logan Ringel added the only other hit for the Lady Bisons.
Next Up:
Harding will be back in action this weekend when it travels to Alva, Oklahoma to take on Northwestern Oklahoma in the final Great American Conference series of the season. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.
