Storm Bested by Harding in Friday Doubleheader

Durant, Okla. – Southeastern drops the first two games of its series with Harding on Friday afternoon. SE lost a back-and-forth contest in game one, as the Lady Bisons got the better of the Savage Storm 8-5 and would follow with a 6-1 defeat in game two.
 
Southeastern (12-18, 6-8 GAC) concludes its series with Harding tomorrow at noon from the Southeastern Softball Field.
 
GAME ONE: HU 8, SE 5
SE and HU were tied 0-0 heading to the third inning after both starting pitchers got off to a strong start, but runs soon began to fall for both sides in the third. Harding struck first with two scores in the top half before SE replied with a four-run bottom of the third to lead 4-2. India McMurray led off the frame with a solo home run, and soon after, Susan Edwards followed with a three-run blast to push SE ahead.
 
The Storm added to their lead in the next inning, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth behind a throwing error by HU's second baseman on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Lorryn Johnson. However, the Lady Bisons answered back with back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and sixth to take an 8-4 lead. HU would limit Southeastern to zero hits in the final two frames to get the win.
 
Southeastern recorded four hits across the 7.0 innings, but would commit three errors, while Harding tallied 12 hits and one error. Emily Simmons started game one and allowed five hits on six hits in 4.2 innings, while Alyson Malone and Lindsey Dubberly pitched the final 2.1 frames. Malone would surrender three runs in 1.0 innings of work to fall to 4-4 on the year.
 
GAME TWO: HU 6, SE 1
The Storm trailed early, as the Lady Bisons struck in the top of the first for two runs, and they would hold their edge over the next three innings. SE was held to three base runners during this stretch, all coming on walks.  
 
After weathering the fast start from Harding, Trinity Oden settled in the circle and posted four scoreless frames, heading into the bottom of the fifth down 2-0. Southeastern threatened to cut into the HU lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Tally Rowland notched a double for the first hit of the game for SE. The blue and gold soon had runners on the corners, but a flyout for the final out would end the Storm's threat. Harding would add to its lead in the following two innings, extending its lead to 6-0.
 
SE would score a run in the seventh after a second hit of the game by T. Rowland, who would score on a single to left center by Johnson. Rowland led the team with two hits, while SE recorded five as a team. T. Oden tossed 6.0 innings in her start and would fall to 3-7 after giving up six runs on ten hits.