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SEARCY, Ark. – In the first ever meeting between the two programs, Harding swept a Great American Conference double header from the University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team on Friday in Searcy. Final scores were 4-1 and 3-2.

UAM (18-13, 9-9 GAC) left 10 runners on base in the first game and only reached the scoreboard in the top half of the seventh inning on a wild pitch after loading the bases with two outs. UAM left the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings after being set down in order in the first three frames.

Senior Hannah Pendley led the Blossoms with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Senior Courtney Wilson (10-5) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) off seven hits in a complete-game effort.

Harding (17-14, 9-9 GAC) started early, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first before adding one in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Amber Rollins (9-6) earned the complete-game win, giving up one run off five hits with 14 strikeouts in her seven innings of work.

In the second game, Harding used three solo homeruns in the final three innings to record a come-from-behind victory. UAM jumped out to a 2-0 lead with an RBI double from sophomore Kali Piha in the first inning and a solo homerun from senior Beth Johnson in the third.

Piha and Johnson each had two hits in the loss, but freshman McKenzie Rice led the team with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, including a double in the fifth. UAM left another nine runners on base in the game-two loss.

Junior Katie Slaughter (8-7) took the loss in complete-game style, surrendering three runs off eight hits in her six innings in the circle. Danielle Hubbard (7-7) earned the win for Harding, while Amber Rollins came back to the circle to pick up her first save of the season.

The four-game series concludes on Saturday with a double header starting at noon in Searcy.