SEARCY, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist (27-14, 20-5 GAC) picked up a massive series win over No. 10 (NFCA) Harding on Friday, winning twice at HU Softball Field.
The Bison shut out Harding 2-0 in the opener before prevailing 6-4 in the second contest. It marked the first time since joining the Great American Conference that OBU won a series in Searcy.
GAME ONE
Behind a masterful pitching performance from
Jaycee Shaffer and clutch late-inning offense, the green and gold earned their 26th win of the season.
In the circle, Shaffer (15-2) silenced HU's bats over 6.2 innings, scattering 10 hits and striking out six while stranding 10 runners. Plus,
Morgan Max recorded the final out to notch her fifth save of the season, second-most in the conference.
After five scoreless innings, OBU broke through in the sixth when
Ally Ryan launched a solo homer to right. That was her 24th career bomb and moved her into fifth place in school history. OBU later added insurance in the seventh when
Abby Laskowski's sacrifice fly scored pinch runner
Alli Bordwine.
Harding (33-10, 17-8 GAC) out-hit the Bison 10-3, but it could not drive them home. In fact, the hosts left runners on base in six of seven frames. Emaline Pearson had a three-hit day, to lead the offense.
Brooklyn Gobble (14-4) took the loss despite a complete-game effort, allowing just two earned runs and striking out six.
GAME TWO
A five-run third inning and clutch relief pitching propelled Oklahoma Baptist in the second contest.
Harding struck first on a wild pitch in the opening frame, but OBU answered in the third. After back-to-back miscues by the Harding defense, Max drove in two with a single up the middle.
Greenlee Wells followed with a three-run homer—her GAC-leading 12th of the season—to put the Bison up 5–1.
Hailey Stanford added a solo shot in the fourth, giving the Bison a 6–1 lead. Harding clawed back with three unearned runs in the bottom half, aided by two OBU errors, trimming the margin to 6–4.
From there, Max shut the door in relief. After taking over for starter
Jorja Barrett in the fourth, Max tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three to earn her fifth win of the year.
OBU turned two double plays defensively and managed seven hits offensively, led by Max's 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Wells drove in three, while
Sammie Greene scored twice and swiped a bag.
Tomorrow, the teams will wrap the series up with a single game at noon.
