Harding reaches GAC softball title game

Kinsey Beck of Harding steals second Saturday as Southern Arkansas second baseman Summer Erhig misses a throw in the sixth inning during the Great American Conference softball tournament at Bentonville’s Tiger Athletic Complex.
Kinsey Beck of Harding steals second Saturday as Southern Arkansas second baseman Summer Erhig misses a throw in the sixth inning during the Great American Conference softball tournament at Bentonville’s Tiger Athletic Complex.

BENTONVILLE -- Mackenzie Jones tried to push the go-ahead run home, but her bunt attempt just didn't work.

The Harding junior did much better when she swung as her sixth-inning single drove in Kimmy Hendricks, and the fourth-seeded Lady Bisons moved within one game of a Great American Conference softball championship with a 5-4 victory Saturday over No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas at the Tiger Athletic Complex.

Harding 5, Southern Arkansas 4

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Johnson and Hendricks. Beasley, Jenkins (7) and Casada. W-Johnson (21-8). L-Beasley (21-4). Sv-None. HR-Southern Arkansas: Dow (13).


Great American Conference Softball Championships

at Tiger Athletic Complex, Bentonville

Thursday

Game 1: No. 6 Henderson State 7, No. 3 Southeastern Oklahoma State 3

Game 2: No. 2 Southern Arkansas 3, No. 7 East Central 2, 12 innings

Game 3: No. 1 Arkansas Tech 2, No. 8 Southern Nazarene 0

Game 4: No. 4 Harding 10, No. 5 Arkansas-Monticello 3

Game 5: East Central 9, Southeastern Oklahoma State 4, Southeastern Oklahoma State eliminated

Game 6: Southern Nazarene 5, Arkansas-Monticello 4, UAM eliminated

Game 7: Southern Arkansas 5, Henderson State 3

Game 8: Harding 1, Arkansas Tech 0, 10 innings

Friday

All games postponed, rain

Saturday

Game 9: Arkansas Tech 3, East Central 2, 9 innings, East Central eliminated

Game 10: Henderson State 2, Southern Nazarene 1, Southern Nazarene eliminated

Game 11: Harding 5, Southern Arkansas 4

Game 12: Henderson State 6, Arkansas Tech 0, Arkansas Tech eliminated

Game 13: Henderson State vs. Southern Arkansas (n)

Today

Game 14: Championship — Harding vs. Game 13 winner, 10 a.m.

Game 15: Championship Game 2 (if necessary), noon

"I knew I needed to get the ball on the right side," Jones said. "It's all about the process and getting the little things done. I couldn't get the bunt down, but it was a big hit."

Hendricks belted a triple to deep center field and was there when Jones tried to bunt and fouled it off. Jones then dropped a line-drive single to right field to break a 3-3 tie, and Harding added a run when Kinsey Beck reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Amanda Berdon's grounder was misplayed.

The final run proved crucial because Southern Arkansas (43-9) picked up a run in the seventh. Liz Hudgins drove in Taylor Stricklin with a two-out single, but Harding pitcher Hannah Johnson (21-8) forced a fly ball to right to end the game.

It gives the Lady Bisons two wins over nationally ranked opponents in as many games and a trip to today's 10 a.m. championship game. Harding defeated No. 8 Arkansas Tech, 1-0, in a 10-inning game that ended at 2:15 a.m. Friday before its win over No. 18 Southern Arkansas.

"The kids have played hard and bought into playing one pitch at a time and one play at a time," Harding coach Phil Berry said. "We don't look too hard at who we are playing or their ranking. What we know is anybody can beat any team in this conference."

Harding had a 3-1 lead thanks to solo runs in the third through fifth innings, but that disappeared in the bottom of the fifth when Southern Arkansas scored twice. Hudgins' drove in pinch-runner Kim Whelehon with a double to left-center, and Taylor Guin followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Lady Bisons will play the winner of Saturday's late game between Southern Arkansas and Henderson State, which advanced with a 6-0 decision over Arkansas Tech. The Lady Reddies also eliminated Southern Nazarene with a 2-1 win in earlier action Saturday, while Arkansas Tech rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 3-2 win over defending tournament champion East Central.

Sports on 05/01/2016

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