Box Score BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University softball team used a six run top of the fourth inning along with one more run in the fifth to take down Harding University in the semifinals of the Great American Conference Championship tournament 7-4 to advance to the championship game tonight at 6:00 p.m. The Muleriders will be taking on the No. 1 seeded team in the tournament in Arkansas Tech University.
Quiet through the first three innings for both teams, SAU was able to explode for six runs in the top of the fourth inning, which was highlighted by a three-run shot from
Mariah Hamilton.
Alese Casper got the inning started with a single to shortstop and hustled down the line to beat the throw and give SAU a runner on base. Casper was able to move to second base on a
Gracie King sac bunt, and then reached third base after
Taylor Murphy singled to right center to put two runners on.
Hamilton got the Muleriders on the board with a three-run home run that banged off the top of the left field foul-poll to put SAU out in front 3-0.
Alyssa Miller singled to shortstop and beat out the throw and then advanced to second on a groundout.
Jade Miller was able to knock in A. Miller with a single to center to lead 4-0.
Jaxynn Dyson kept the inning going with a single through the left side, followed by a
Madison Miller single to center to score J. Miller, while Dyson scored on a fielding error to make it 6-0.
The Muleriders were able to get one more run on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as
Gracie King connected on a solo shot to right center field to take a 7-0 lead. Harding was able to post four runs in the bottom half of the inning, but these would be the only Lady Bisons runs of the game as
Sydney Ward was able to hold HU's bats quiet the next three innings.
J. Miller and Casper both collected two hits in the game, while
Tiare Lee, Dyson, M. Miller, King, Murphy, Hamilton, and A. Miller all had one hit apiece. Hamilton led SAU with three RBI, while J. Miller, M. Miller, and King all collected one RBI.
Kiana Pogroszewski picked up her second win of the tournament as the freshman went 4.0 innings, while allowing six hits on two runs and striking out four.
Baylie Thornhill saw .2 innings of action in the circle and struck out two.
Sydney Ward picked up her first career save as she went 2.1 innings and allowed two hits, while striking out three.
SAU will take on ATU in the Championship game tonight at 6:00 P.M.
