SEARCY, Ark. – The Muleriders began the double header games with leads over the Harding Bisons, but HU showed late-inning efforts to walk SAU off in both Saturday night games. The rival teams will conclude their three-game series in Harding tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
Southern Arkansas led the Bisons through five innings of play in game one until Harding made a two-run comeback effort in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at two all. The Bisons forced a single extra inning of play where they scored the game-winning run. SAU held a 5-4 lead over HU in game two but a game-tying run followed by a walk off two-run home run dealt SAU with their second loss of the day.
Game One
Southern Arkansas Notes
*Sydney Ward tossed all 7.2 innings for the Muleriders where she allowed three runs on six hits while walking and striking out three. She allowed just one hit through the first five innings.
*Jaxynn Dyson, Courtney Storey, Kamryn Moctezuma and Ariana Rolle each recorded a hit for SAU while Story and Haley Nillen accounted for the two RBI.
*The Muleriders found their way onto the board early, scoring a run in the first inning at the Harding Softball Field in Searcy. Rolle singled, advanced to second on Gracie King's fielder's choice and found her way to third on an error by the short stop. Nillen brought her home with a sacrifice fly to left to record her eighth RBI of the season.
*Moctezuma represented SAU's first base runner of the fourth inning when she doubled to right center, setting herself to bring the Muleriders their second run home when Storey knocked an RBI single to left center.
Harding Notes
*Harding's two-run effort in the sixth featured two hits and a walk. Hanna Jones found her way on base through a one-out walk and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Leigha Harris doubled to bring her home before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Emma Curry drove in the tying run with a single through the left side to score Harris.
*Curry continued to provide for the Bisons as she knocked a two-out double in the eighth and served as the winning run as Riley Price singled to drive her home.
Game Two
Southern Arkansas Notes
*Moctezuma and Rolle each recorded two hits in game two with Moctezuma accounting for two RBI.
*Southern Arkansas saw four consecutive two-out hits to account for two runs in the second inning. Mockezuma started the hot hitting for the Muleriders, singling to center field before advancing to third on a Mariah Hamilton single to right field. Storey drove in her second run of the series, doubling up the middle to advance Hamilton to third and scoring Moctezuma. Alyssa Miller wrapped up second inning scoring with a single down the left field line to bring Hamilton
*The Muleriders scored three runs with two outs in the fifth to gain a three-run lead over the Bisons. Ariana Rolle singled in SAU's first at bat and advanced to second two outs later when Regan Dillon drew a walk. Dyson singled to advance both runners into scoring position before Farquhar took over pinch running responsibilities for Dillon. Dyson took second, Emma Farquhar third and Rolle scored on a wild pitch by Pistokache. Kamryn Moctezuma brought the final two Mulerider base runners home with a triple to left center.
Harding Notes
*Harding once again found a two-run inning to tie up play with the Muleriders. Hannah Garret started the third inning off with a double down the right field line and was brought home when M. Smith reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Smith advanced to second on a SAC bunt and found her way home when Nicole Shano singled up the middle.
*Harding made up for the three-run Muleriders effort in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Garrett and Macy Smith recorded back-to-back base knocks and advanced to second and third on a SAC bunt. Shano recorded their third single of the inning and drove both Bisons home in the process.
*Harding walked the Muleriders off once again, this time snagging a 7-5 win in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run following a single run earlier in the inning.
