Softball Splits Twinbill at HU

SEARCY, Ark. – Southeastern exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning of game two against Harding to earn a split on day, winning that contest 11-8 after dropping the series-opener 6-3 in Searcy, Ark.
 
The split moves the Savage Storm to 8-12 overall on the season and 6-4 in Great American Conference play with a series-ending double-header slated for 10 a.m. on Monday in Searcy, Ark.
 
Katie McCullar collected a trio of hits in game two to lead all hitter, but it was a pair of homers by Elexis Watson that scored four runs and powered the Southeastern offense.
 
Symphoni Shomo and Keeshia Thompson each added two hits as well, while Destiny Riddle, Karsyn Brigance, Kamarie Wallace, Ivy Amador, and Augusta Duty each added one to bring the team total to 14 in the game.
 
Watson's four RBI led all players, while Thompson, McCullar, Brigance, Amador, Duty, and Hope Deanda each added an RBI.
 
Emily Cudd got the start and tossed 2.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts before McCullar took over and added 1.1 innings and allowed a run on three hits.
 
Riddle would put together the longest outing and collect the win with 3.0 innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
 
Watson opened the game with a leadoff home run and three batters later McCullar doubled home Shomo to take a 2-0 lead.
 
That held up till the Bisons put up three runs in the bottom of the second.
 
SE answered with bases-loaded walks by Brigance and Deanda to put the Storm back in front 4-3.
 
The lead was short lived as HU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third and pushed its lead out to 6-4 with a run in the fourth and another in the sixth.
 
A walk and back-to-back singles would load the bases for the Storm with one out in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for a two-run Amador single that tied the game at 6-6.
 
Southeastern took the lead a batter later when a pinch-hitting Duty drove in Brigance on a bunt single, going up 7-6.
 
Watson followed two batters later with a three-run homer to push the edge to 10-6 before a Thompson RBI single rounded out the Storm scoring with an 11-6 lead.
 
HU would get two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but that is where the rally ended as the Storm held on for an 11-8 win.
 
In the opener, Keeshia Thompson posted a 3-for-4 outing with a pair of doubles and two RBI to lead the way for the Storm, while Elexis Watson, Symphoni Shomo, Katie McCullar, Ivy Amador, and Mykaela Wallace added one apiece.
 
Amador provided the team's other RBI, while Watson scored a pair of runs.
 
Destiny Riddle got the start and suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits with one strikeout over 5.0 innings of work.
 
McCullar added an inning of work and allowed a hit while striking out one.

SE took advantage of a Watson leadoff walk as she was able to score on a two-out RBI double by Thompson to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bisons responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs, and pushed their lead to 6-1 awith a run each in the fifth and sixth innings.
 
A Thompson RBI double followed by a McCullar sac fly in the top of the seventh would close the gap to 6-3, but that was as close as the Storm would get.