GAC Tournament underway

Southern Arkansas University and Harding University won their first two games Thursday at the Great American Conference Thursday in Bentonville.

The Lady Muleriders ( 44- 14) defeated Henderson State University ( 23- 33) 7- 2 and Arkansas Tech University 2- 1. Against Henderson State, the Lady Muleriders scored three runs in the third inning to take a 5- 1 lead.

Monica Isalva led SAU by going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. Tyler Casada went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Jill Roye ( 5- 2) pitched in relief of Kaylee Garner and got the victory. SAU will play Ouachita Baptist University ( 22- 33) at 1 p. m. today. Henderson State was eliminated 2- 1 by Southern Nazarene in 16 innings when Amy Reynolds singled in Riley Brown with the winning run.

Against Arkansas Tech ( 36- 21), Brooke Goad and Maddie Dow had home runs to account for the Lady Muleriders’ runs. Victoria Taylor ( 17- 6) allowed 6 hits and 1 run for the victory.

Earlier in the day, Arkansas Tech defeated Southern Nazarene 2- 0 as Jalissa Gum ( 20- 10) allowed 2 hits in 7 innings with 13 strikeouts. Arkansas Tech will play East Central ( Okla.) at 10: 30 a. m. today. Harding ( 52- 6) opened with a 3- 1 victory over OBU with Peyton Mills delivering a two- run triple in the third. Hannah Johnson ( 234) picked up the victory, allowing 1 run on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts.

Harding advanced to beat the University of Arkansas at Monticello ( 34- 22) 2- 0 by scoring runs in the first and fourth innings. UAM will meet Southern Nazarene in a loser’s bracket game at 10: 30 a. m.

Earlier in the day, UAM defeated East Central 2- 0. Maddie Clendenin hit a solo home run and Kendra Coleman ( 21- 7) pitched a complete- game victory.

In the last game of the night, OBU eliminated East Central with a 5- 1 victory by scoring three runs in the seventh inning.

Kelsey O’Brien ( 8- 16) picked up the victory by allowing 1 run on 5 hits in 6 innings.