MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas' Brooklyn Ree hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give No. 11 Southern Arkansas a 2-1 victory over Harding on Friday afternoon at Dawson Field.

The loss in the extra-inning thriller meant the Lady Bisons (21-14, 16-5 GAC) dropped the pivotal rubber match, as the Muleriders (34-5, 17-4 GAC) claimed the series two games to one.

How it Happened

Harding struck first in the top of the first inning. After Bailey Robinson walked and Zoey Neal singled, Ella Friederich delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle to score Robinson and give the Lady Bisons an early 1-0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived, however. Southern Arkansas answered in the bottom of the frame when Sophia Luett singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate on a Paris Endris RBI single to left field.

From that point on, the game turned into a premier pitching duel between Harding's Brooklyn Gobble and SAU's Emma Duncan.

Harding's best chance to break the tie came in the top of the eighth when Logan Ringel singled and moved to third on a throwing error and a single by Robinson. However, Duncan escaped the bases-loaded jam with two popups.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ree ended the contest, launching a solo shot over the wall in left-center to seal the victory for the Muleriders.

In the Circle

Brooklyn Gobble (13-9) tossed 8.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five.

Emma Duncan (13-9) earned the win for Southern Arkansas, throwing a complete 9.0-inning game. She surrendered one run on seven hits and struck out eight.

Up Next

The Lady Bisons continue their road swing at Oklahoma Baptist next weekend. First pitch in Shawnee, Oklahoma is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.