SEARCY, Ark. - Harding used solid pitching and timely hitting to win a pair of 3-1 contests over the Christian Brothers University softball team, in non-conference action, on Tuesday, at HU Softball Field.
GAME ONE: HARDING 3 (20-11) CBU 1 (7-22)
GAME CHANGER:
A solid outing from CBU starting pitcher
Macy Cumming was outdueled by Harding starter Lily Tanski, who allowed just two hits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
The Lady Bisons finished with a 6-2 edge in hits.
The Lady Bucs walked nine times in the contest.
Mackenzie Puckett and
Josie Bond recorded the two hits for CBU.
Puckett's double in the fifth led to the lone run of the game for the Lady Bucs.
Cara Alexander drove in the CBU run on a sacrifice fly.
Macy Cumming tossed a complete game, allowing three earned runs, on six hits, while striking out seven.
KEY PLAYS:
After 3.5 scoreless innings, Harding scored the first run of the game on an RBI single.
In the same inning, Harding had the bases loaded with one out, but Cumming allowed just one run to get out of the jam.
CBU responded in the top of the fifth on the sacrifice fly by
Cara Alexander.
In the bottom of the fifth the Lady Bisons scored what proved to be the game-winning runs when Chelsea Blankenship hit a two-run home run.
Tanski retired the last eight batters, in order, to end the game.
NOTEABLES:
Cumming has pitched at least six innings in seven of her last eight starts.
GAME TWO: HARDING 3 (21-11) CBU 1 (7-23)
GAME CHANGER:
CBU left seven runners on base.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
CBU was outhit 8-5.
Five different players recorded hits for CBU.
Ashlynn Smith drove in the lone run of the game.
Starting pitcher
Kelsey Wurm went the distance, allowing three runs on eight hits.
KEY PLAYS:
After a second inning triple helped Harding open the scoring, Smith's fourth inning single tied the game at one.
In the fifth, CBU had a runner on second, with just one out, but was unable to score the go-ahead run.
In a repeat from the opening game, Harding scored what proved to be the game-winning runs in the bottom of the fifth.
UP NEXT:
The Lady Bucs are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, April 17 when they travel to Jackson, Tenn., for a three game Gulf South Conference series with in-state rivals Union. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
