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BENTONVILLE, Arkansas — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team advanced in the Great American Conference Championship Tournament by defeating Harding University on Friday by a final score of 11-8.
UAM will play again on Friday at 5 p.m. against either Henderson State or East Central.
The Blossoms (28-29) cushioned its lead by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run homerun from senior Channing Tharpe and later a two-run double from junior Sydney Tipton. Those six runs put UAM up 11-5.
The Lady Bisons (32-26) came back to within three with one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh. Harding left the bases loaded to end the game.
Freshman McKenzie Rice sparked a three-run first inning for the Blossoms with a leadoff homerun to left field. UAM plated another two runs in the frame off a pair of Lady Bison errors, including an interference call at third base that allowed senior Brittany Eitel to score.
The Lady Bisons added their first run in the top of the third inning off a UAM error.
UAM loaded the bases in the third with one out, but managed only one run on a fielder's choice grounder by junior Lacy Blanchard to score Beth Johnson, who beat out a throw from Harding's third baseman to the plate.
Harding responded by loading the bases in the top of the fourth and getting two runs out of it on a sacrifice fly from Jessica Greene and an RBI single from Courtney Chambers.
Johnson gave UAM a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple down the right field to score sophomore Kali Piha, who reached first on an infield single in the previous at bat.
Harding forced a 5-all tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning on back-to-back doubles from Marley Edwards and Chambers.
Harding ended the game with a 13-10 edge in total hits, but the Lady Bisons committed six errors to UAM's four in the contest.
Junior Katie Slaughter (15-13) earned the win in relief, allowing three runs (one earned) off four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in the final 2.1 innings. Harding's Danielle Hubbard (12-12) took the loss after allowing five runs off four hits in two innings of relief.
Friday's 5 p.m. game will be featured on the GAC Sports Network video webcast as well as the UAM Sports Radio Network at KHBM-FM 93.7 in Monticello and online at uamsports.com.
