The women’s softball team swept the field at the University of Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic on Feb. 12-13 in Bentonville, Arkansas, defeating the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Central Missouri on Friday and followed that up on Saturday with wins over Northeastern State University and Truman State University.
Junior catcher Kimmy Hendricks, who had a grand slam in both games on Friday, was named Great American Conference player of the week for Feb. 6-13. Senior infielder Kinsey Beck, who had five hits on the weekend, said that while the wins were an encouraging sign of what is to come, the team cannot get complacent.
“Hopefully we take (the wins) as confidence — however, we can’t let that get in our head,” Beck said. “We’re good because we work hard every single day at practice, and we’re focused because we have team chemistry and energy in the dugout and on the field.”
The Lady Bisons exploded out of the gates in the first game against Minnesota-Duluth, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning on their way to a 15-4 win. Junior outfielder Mackenzie Jones, along with Hendricks, led the charge with five RBIs apiece.
The second game of the day featured more offense for the Lady Bisons, as they broke open a 2-0 game with a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by Hendricks’ second grand slam in one day, on their way to an 8-2 victory over the University of Central Missouri.
After cruising past their first two opponents on Friday, the Lady Bisons found themselves in tighter contests on Saturday. The first game, a rematch of the season opener against Northeastern State, was a back-and-forth affair, but Jones’ three RBIs were enough to carry Harding to a 4-3 win, avenging the 5-4 loss they suffered at the hands of Northeastern State on Jan. 30. Game two saw Truman State University jump out to a 2-1 lead after the first inning, but the Lady Bisons put up five runs in the bottom of the fourth on five hits and two errors, paving the way to a 7-2 victory and a sweep of the weekend in Bentonville. Head coach Phil Berry said that recovering from the defeats of the previous weekend was huge for his club.
“When you’re playing multiple days you have to take each game one at a time and each pitch one at a time,” Berry said. “Bouncing back from a weekend that we weren’t happy with, the weekend before, and getting those two wins on Friday and producing so well against quality opponents, it helps lift everyone’s confidence a little bit … so they were able to go back Saturday and get two more wins.”
Beck said the Lady Bisons have always had skill, but what sets this year’s team apart is the bond they have built together.
“We’ve always had the talent, but I think it’s the chemistry that really counts,” Beck said. “It’s been awesome so far and I think its just going to get better.”
The Lady Bisons will look to continue their winning ways in a doubleheader this afternoon, Feb. 19, against Henderson State University at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and will play a second doubleheader on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. also in Arkadelphia.
