ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State begins NCAA Regional play on Thursday when the No. 3 seed Reddies take on the No. 6 seed Northeastern State at 2 p.m. in Magnolia, Ark. Regardless of result, HSU will play again on Friday at either 2 p.m. with a loss or 6 p.m. with a victory.

REDDIES REPORT
– The Reddies (38-15) put together a strong showing in the 2022 GAC Tournament last week in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and finished as the league’s runner-up. With three wins in Hot Springs, HSU jumped up to the No. 3 seed in the Central Region, earning a spot in Southern Arkansas’s regional just 75 miles from campus in Arkadelphia. The tournament format is double-elimination, so each team is guaranteed at least two postseason contests.

– Henderson is the highest-seeded at-large team in the region and will be playing an NCAA Tournament contest as the higher seed for the first time in program history on Thursday. In each of their last two trips to the Central Regional Tournament in 2015 and 2021, the Reddies were the No. 6 seed and the final team to make the bracket. HSU set program records this spring with 38 wins, 23 conference victories and a 14-0 winning-streak to open the season.

– HSU was the top pitching team in the GAC this year and boasts a team ERA of 4.28 — a mark which ranks 28th nationally. Henderson had two 2022 First Team All-GAC pitchers in starter Spencer Taack and reliever Brayden Bebee, while starter Ryan Galvan is 6-0 on the year with a 3.28 ERA. Reliever Andrew Howard, who was a 2022 GAC All-Tournament honoree, has a 6-3 record, 2.81 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched. Opponents hit a conference-low .239 against HSU pitching this season.

– As a team, the Reddies are hitting .288 and slugging .464. Henderson finished second in the GAC with 111 doubles and outscored its opponents 391-262 on the season. HSU has five everyday position players hitting .290 or better and counts nine players who have 20 or more RBIs this spring.

– First baseman Greyson Stevens and second baseman Kaden Argenbright are the only two Reddies who have started all 53 games this spring for the red and gray. Stevens bats .356 with a team-high 72 hits, 19 doubles and 47 RBIs. Argenbright is hitting .304 with 65 hits, 17 doubles and 35 RBIs as the lead-off man. Left fielder David Vilches, who has set a new school record with 17 home runs this year, has played in all 53 contests, while centerfielder Bryson Haskins has played and started in 52 of the 53.

– Stevens has written his name across the Reddie record books and has a chance to do so further at the NCAA Tournament. The 2022 All-GAC selection is HSU’s all-time leader in RBIs (130), ranks second in program history in hits (183) and third in home runs (24). He needs 12 more hits and four more home runs to become Henderson’s program leader in both categories. The Pottsville, Arkansas native is currently one of just five players in school history to record 70 or more hits in a single season.

– Third baseman Dillon Thomas vaulted his way into the Reddies’ lineup in March and has been a staple ever since. Thomas leads the team with a .406 batting average and has recorded at least one hit in 28 of Henderson’s last 31 games. He earned 2022 All-GAC Tournament honors in Hot Springs after going 9-for-18 in four games at the plate.

– Henderson was impressive this season against good teams and enters the Central Regional 23-10 on the year against teams with records over .500. HSU was 2-3 against regional host-Southern Arkansas and 5-1 against No. 8 seed and regional qualifier Ouachita Baptist.

– HSU is 7-4 all-time at the NCAA DII Tournament and 5-2 all-time in the Central Regional. Six of those victories came in 2015, when Henderson won the region title and captured two wins at the College World Series in Cary, North Carolina. The Reddies lost to eventual national runners-up Central Missouri and Minnesota State last season, but eliminated Augustana in Warrensburg, Missouri.

– The Reddies are 30-3 this year when leading after six innings and are 53-4 overall in the last two seasons when holding a lead after six complete. Henderson is 21-1 this spring when it commits no errors and is 23-7 when it scores first.

SCOUTING THE MAGNOLIA REGIONAL FIELD
– No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas enters its 14th NCAA Tournament riding high after capturing the 2022 GAC regular season and tournament titles this spring. The Muleriders (41-11) won 27 games in the GAC and were 16-3 at home inside Walker Stadium and Goodheart Field. SAU hits .314 as a club and is led by a barrage of offensive weapons. Brandon Nicoll and Brett McGee have each driven in 64 runs this season, while Tucker Burton has blasted 16 home runs. Southern Arkansas also boasts 2022 GAC Pitcher of the Year, Jeremy Adorno, who has a 14-0 record in 14 starts, a 2.16 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitched. The Muleriders are hosting the regional tournament for the third time in program history.

– No. 6 seed Northeastern State is making its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament after finishing a terrific campaign with a record of 37-16 overall. The RiverHawks are one of the best offensive teams in the country with a batting average of .330 and a national-high 117 home runs this season. NSU is one of just 12 teams in the country with 600 or more hits as a club and is No. 3 nationally in team slugging percentage (.609). Northeastern has one of the top outfield duos in all of NCAA DII in Blake Freeman and Brock Reller. Freeman is No. 3 in the country with 89 hits this year, while Reller ranks No. 3 nationally in home runs (27) and RBIs (82). The RiverHawks’ ace is Jonathan Smithey, who has a 7-2 record in 13 starts, a 3.18 ERA and 65 strikeouts compared to just 18 walks.

– No. 7 seed Washburn is also making its inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance at the Magnolia Regional. The Ichabods finished 33-20 overall and won four games at the MIAA Tournament in Edmond, Oklahoma to seize the No. 7 seed in the final rankings. Washburn is batting .301 as a team and has a staff ERA of 5.78. The Ichabods’ top hitters are Brett Ingram, who has a .365 average, 80 hits, 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 45 RBIs this spring, and slugger Parker Dunn, who has racked up 17 home runs and 59 RBIs while slugging .626. Washburn has a deep pitching staff with 14 players who have made 10 or more appearances on the mound this season. Reliever Dalton Huggins has pitched in a whopping 28 contests and carries a 3.82 ERA with five saves in 68.1 innings pitched.

The post Henderson State opens 2022 Central Regional on Thursday appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – No one said it would be easy. But that certainly did not phase fifth-year head coach Justin Pettigrew‘s squad on Championship Monday from Crane Stadium at Tompkins Field. (5) Southern Arkansas entered the final day of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament needing two wins over top-seeded and host Central Missouri, a consensus top five team nationally, in order to punch its ticket to the DII Baseball World Series. Through the first five innings of play, the Muleriders battled blow-for-blow with the Mules, before a late offensive surge by UCM served as the difference in the regional final as Central Missouri advanced with a 12-5 win.

Playing their fifth game of the tournament and third of the past 24 hours, the Muleriders (30-16) put forth a noble effort on Monday afternoon as the club used a solid start on two-days rest from sophomore Jacob Womack, while recording eight hits, including three by senior Kobe Morris and two from junior Jacob Martinez.

Southern Arkansas answered a single UCM run in the top of the third with two runs in the bottom of that frame to take a 2-1 lead. Senior Mason Peterson walked to lead off the inning and with one out, Baker doubled to left centerfield that pushed the former to third base. Morris then guided a full-count pitch through the right side to plate Peterson and push Baker to second. Martinez followed with a single to left field that scored Baker and put SAU out front 2-1, but the Muleriders would strand runners at second and third to end the third.

Central Missouri, one of the top offensive teams in the country, pushed across four runs in the next half inning to take a 5-2 through four. That response from UCM ended Womack’s day at 3.1 innings, but the right hander was solid through three as he stranded a pair in the first, worked a perfect second and was a wild pitch away from leaving the third inning unscathed.

Again, Southern Arkansas responded with a two-run fifth inning as SAU put together an offensive charge with two outs as Morris singled to centerfield and scored four pitches later on a double to centerfield by Martinez. McGee then drove in Martinez as he placed a 2-0 pitch into right field to pull Southern Arkansas to within a single run of the UCM lead at 5-4.

However, the Muleriders ran into trouble in the top of the sixth as a three-run home run off the bat of UCM’s Dusty Stroup served as the turning point as the blast staked the Mules to an 8-4 lead which blossomed to a 10-4 advantage after a two-run seventh.

Senior Matt Kortendick was the first reliever out of the bullpen for SAU on Monday as he took over for Womack with one out in the third. He retired the first four batters he faced, before working around a two-out double to end the threat in the fifth inning. With one out in the sixth, UCM found its way offensively against Kortendick with the aforementioned home run opening up the box score for the Mules.

Sophomore Remy Bilodeau took to the mound for the third time in the tournament and managed to work out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in that two-run seventh for UCM by recording a pop out to Baker at second and a 5-3 double play which was engineered by Morris. Central Missouri added two more runs in the eighth inning and SAU’s final run came across in the bottom half as a sacrifice fly from freshman Chris Lyles chased home Martinez.

Martinez recorded two RBI with Morris, McGee and Lyles accounting for one each. Baker joined Martinez and Morris in the hit column as did McGee and Muldoon. Martinez led SAU with two runs scored, while Baker, Morris and Peterson all scored once.

Monday’s matchup marked the fourth time in SAU’s NCAA Era that the Muleriders advanced to the final day of a regional postseason tournament. SAU first reached the final day in 2004 at the South Region Tournament, again at the 2010 South Regional, and at the 2018 Central Regional; hosted by Southern Arkansas.

The post Muleriders’ season ends in Central Region final appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — A magical 2021 season came to a close for Henderson State on Sunday afternoon as the Reddies fell to No. 3 seed Minnesota State 7-4 in the semifinal round of the NCAA Central Regional.

The loss ends the year for GAC Champion HSU, who finishes with a 27-19 record and as one of the last four teams standing in a stacked Central Region. The Reddies faced the top three seeds at the regional tournament, all of whom were ranked inside the Top-15 nationally, and battled three starting pitchers who were a combined 26-1 on the year.

Henderson, the No. 6 seed, led for the majority of the game against the No. 13 team in the country, Minnesota State. The Reddies took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double from Kaden Argenbright, then extended their advantage to 3-0 in the second inning on a two-run single from Alec Lewis.

The Mavericks got two runs back in the bottom half of the third to cut their deficit to 3-2, but at that point, both pitchers settled in. MSU’s Brendan Knoll, who gave up five straight hits in the third, proceeded to sit the next 14 Reddie batters down in order, while HSU freshman Ethan Perry, who entered in the fourth, kept Minnesota State off the board for the next four innings.

The contest turned for HSU in the eighth. Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Henderson got back-to-back hits from Argenbright and Lewis to put runners on the corners with no one out. The Mavericks escaped, however, as their All-American reliever Hunter Even left two stranded to keep the score intact.

Minnesota State capitalized on the momentum in the bottom half and used four hits, including a three-run home run, to plate five runs and seize a 7-3 lead.

Down to their final three outs, Henderson refused to go away quietly in the top of the ninth. HSU got a solo home run from Danny Mitchell Jr. to make it 7-4, then got back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs. With a chance to pull off another furious comeback, the Reddies saw a full-count strike call go against them, which ended the game for MSU.

Argenbright had three hits and two doubles to lead HSU at the plate, while Lewis finished with two hits and two RBIs. Joe Myers recorded two hits in his final game for the Reddies, which was the 195th of his career.

Perry took the loss despite a terrific performance where he threw four innings, struck out four, and allowed just two runs on four hits. Brayden Bebee entered briefly for Henderson in the eighth, which marked his third appearance in three games at the Central Regional.

Originally picked seventh in the 2021 GAC Preseason Poll, the Reddies won the program’s first conference title in 39 years this spring and earned the school’s second-ever berth to the NCAA Tournament.

The post Henderson State’s historic season ends at Central Regional appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Senior Zach Muldoon sent a 2-2 pitch sharply on the ground to third base and the throw home to cut down the winning run in senior Austin Baker was not in time as (5) Southern Arkansas walked off (3) Minnesota State 2-1 in Saturday’s nightcap from Crane Stadium at Tompkins Field. The win, which was highlighted by an outstanding effort from SAU starting pitcher Zach Smith, sends the Muleriders to the winner’s bracket final of the NCAA DII Central Regional where host and top-seeded Central Missouri, a consensus top five team nationally, awaits on Sunday morning in Warrensburg.

The Muleriders (29-14) managed just three hits against the Mavericks’ Nick Altermatt in the win as Baker collected two including a lead-off double in the bottom of the first and a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth; both of which led to him scoring with the first giving Smith an early 1-0 lead and the second sending Southern Arkansas into Sunday unbeaten.

Baker advanced to third on a groundout by classmate Kobe Morrisfollowing the former’s leadoff double and was pushed home on an RBI-groundout from the bat of junior Jacob Martinez. Smith worked around trouble in the top of the second inning as he pitched out of a bases loaded jam with one out after surrendering a solo home run which tied the contest at 1. He also threw around a base runner at third in the top half of the first inning.

Smith stranding the bases loaded in that second frame served as the first of several situations that the right hander pitched out of on Saturday as he delivered a tenacious effort on the hill which saw him scatter nine hits and three walks, while fanning two and allowing only a single run in 8.0 innings of action.

After the damage done by SAU in the first inning, Altermatt faced the minimum in the third, fourth and fifth innings, before the Muleriders managed to get to the Maverick right hander with runners at first and second with no outs in the sixth only to come away empty in the run column as the game remained tied at one entering the seventh. Senior Mason Peterson singled to start the inning; the lone hit allowed to a Mulerider between Baker’s knocks in the first and ninth innings.

For Smith, he worked a quick third inning highlighted by a 6-4-3 double play, faced the minimum in the fourth as sophomore Brett McGeehosed a two-out base runner at second base to end the frame, left two men on in the fifth inning and forced the abandonment of MSU baserunners at the corners in the sixth. A Maverick reached base in both the seventh and eighth innings, but would not make it past first as Smith induced a dozen ground ball outs and eight fly outs in his outing.

Southern Arkansas went back to the well for the ninth inning as sophomore Remy Bilodeau, who was very solid in relief of starter Jacob Womack on Friday, entered in the ninth inning to hold Minnesota State at a single run. Back-to-back two-out singles were left on the base paths as Bilodeau fanned MSU’s Ty Denzer to end the top half of the inning and set the stage for the SAU offense.

Baker’s single started the frame and he moved to third on a fielding error by the Maverick second baseman in Morris’ at bat. Martinez grounded out which moved Morris to second as Baker held at third and an intentional walk to McGee, the lone free pass of the night allowed by Altermatt, loaded the bases for Muldoon who delivered.

The victory over the Mavericks was the first for Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders dropped a 6-3 decision to MSU at the 2014 NCAA DII Central Regional in Russellville, Arkansas, and suffered a 7-2 loss at the 2015 NCAA DII Central Regional in St. Cloud, Minnesota. SAU has won four of its past five against UCM dating back to the 2013 season. The Muleriders topped the Mules 11-6 in the 2018 NCAA DII Central Regional played in Magnolia

The post Muleriders walk off Minnesota State, advance to winners’ bracket final appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The 2021 season came to a close for the Arkansas Tech baseball team on Saturday afternoon as the Wonder Boys fell to top-seeded Central Missouri by a score of 7-4.

The season ends with the Wonder Boys winning 26 games and claiming a share of the GAC Regular Season Championship after going 23-10 in conference play. It was the second regular season GAC title for the Wonder Boys under head coach Dave Dawson. The Wonder Boys then advanced to their first-ever GAC Tournament Championship Game, but ultimately lost to Henderson State.

The Wonder Boys’ season body of work was still more than good enough for them to earn the No. 4-seed and an at-large berth into this year’s Central Region Tournament. It was the second time that the Wonder Boys have made a regional as well.

In the final game of their 2021 season, the Wonder Boys fell behind in the third inning to the No. 2-ranked Mules (41-6) as UCM scored five runs that frame. The Mules went on to score single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-0 lead.

The Wonder Boys broke into the run column in the sixth inning on a solo home run out to left field off the bat of Garrett Crews. Two innings later, the Wonder Boys struck for three runs and pulled within that margin thanks to a solo homer by Gabriel Garcia and a two-RBI double in the left-centerfield cap off the bat of Josh Detweiler.

On the mound, the Wonder Boys used three arms with Riyan Rodriguez getting the start. He worked 2.2 innings and then gave way to Mason Griffin (Rogers, Ark.). Griffin pitched the next 4.1 innings and struck out three. Hayes Cox handled the final two innings and did not allow a hit while striking out one.

The post Wonder Boys’ season end in Central Region tournament appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

DENVER – The UAFS volleyball team has concluded a historic season as the Lady Lions fell against the regional top seed and host of the NCAA Regional Tournament – Regis University by the score of 17-25, 17-25, 22-25. The Lady Lions finish the season with a 27-7 record and a highest regional seed (4) in the Division II history of the program.

The Lady Lions scored overall 44 points and hit a .102 clip with 32 kills on 128 attempts and 19 errors. The team-leaders in kills were Rachel Williams (10), Lexie Johnston (7), and Anna Demmer (5) while Amanda Van Wyk led the Lady Lions in assists (18).

Defensively, as a team UAFS allowed their opponent .298 hitting percentage with 47 kills on 121 total attacks and only 11 errors. The Lady Lions recorded five total blocks and 55 digs, led by Van Wyk (17), Demmer (13) and Lexy Lewis(10).

“It’s always disappointing when a successful season comes to an end. However, this team accomplished so much: our first Lone Star Divisional Championship,highest seed in an NCAA tournament, and being a regional semifinalist,” said UAFS Athletic Director Curtis Janz. “When I remember this team, I will remember their resilience, their leadership, and the joy with which they played the game. This is a very special group of ladies led by an exceptional coaching staff.”

As the Lady Lions conclude the 2019 season with the highest seed in the program’s Division II history, here are some of the statistical leaders for the season:

Kills: Anna Demmer (421), Rachel Williams (335) Lexie Johnston (332)
Assists: Amanda Van Wyk (1155)
Aces: Amanda Van Wyk (43), Erin Black (30), Lexy Lewis (24)
Digs: Lexy Lewis (413), Anna Demmer (408), Amanda Van Wyk (386)
Blocks: Lexie Johnston (132), Anna Demmer (82), Amanda Van Wyk (71)

The post UAFS falls to Regis, concludes historic season appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

The post GAC Weekly 425 appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

EDMOND, Okla. – The tandem of Kristen Dempsey and Bailey Shaffer combined to hold No. 17 Southern Arkansas to five hits, while timely hitting by the Arkansas Tech offense led the way as the No. 12 Golden Suns (45-12) topped SAU (45-12) 4-3 in the opening round of the Central Region 1 Championship on Thursday at Broncho Stadium.

NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns play the Central Oklahoma/Minnesota Duluth winner in a winners’ bracket game at noon on Friday, May 10.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS LINEUP

1. Laina Suesue (C)
2. Sarah Evans (SS)
3. Faith Otts (3B)
4. Elisa Favela (DP)
5. Chelsea Fagan (1B)
6. Savannah Martinez (LF)
7. Rachel Miller (CF)
8. Sarah Pitre (2B)
9. Hallie Saintignan (RF)
   Victoria Taylor (P)

ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP

1. Gaby Vasquez (RF)
2. Sydnie Henson (LF)
3. Megan Goodnight (1B)
4. Tymber Riley (DP)
5. Ashton Sangster (CF)
6. Sarah Coronado (SS)
7. Paty Loredo (3B)
8. Makenzie Addis (C)
9. Bailey Bunch (2B)
   Kristen Dempsey (P)

SCORING PLAYS

• SAU 2^nd– L. Suesue homered to right field, 3 RBI; S. Pitre scored; S. Martinez scored. (SAU 3, Tech 0)
• Tech 3^rd–T. Riley singled up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; M. Goodnight advanced to third; G. Vasquez scored. (SAU 3, Tech 1)
• Tech 3^rd–A. Sangster singled to second base, RBI; T. Riley advanced to third; M. Goodnight scored. (SAU 3, Tech 2)
• Tech 3^rd–S. Coronado reached on a fielding error by cf; A. Sangster scored, unearned; T. Riley scored, unearned. (Tech 4, SAU 3)

NOTABLES

• Goodnight was 2-for-2 in the win.
• Dempsey picked up her 15^thwin of the season after scattering four hits in four innings, allowing three earned runs, walking one and fanning two.
• Bailey Shaffer notched her sixth save of the year after allowing one walk and one hit in three scoreless innings. The senior fanned three.
• Seniors Gaby Vasquez, Sydnie Henson, Bailey Shaffer, and Sarah Coronado received their bachelor’s degrees in a pre-game on-field ceremony.

OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher: Kristen Dempsey (15-3)
• Losing Pitcher: Victoria Taylor (11-5)
• Save: Bailey Shaffer (6)

The post ATU rallies past SAU in NCAA Tournament opener appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Harding scored 19 points in the fourth quarter but came up one drive short of overcoming a three-touchdown deficit after three quarters and fell 21-19 to Ferris State on Saturday at Top Taggart Field in the first round of the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Playoffs.

Harding, the No. 7 seed, finished the season 9-3. The team’s seniors finished their careers with 40 victories.

No. 2 seed Ferris State remained undefeated at 12-0 and advances to host No. 6 seed Northwest Missouri State in the Super Region semifinals next weekend.

Trailing 21-0, Harding punctuated a 12-play, 64-yard drive with a 5-yard Taylor Bissell TD run on a pitch to the left. The score came on the first play of the fourth quarter. The extra point missed, and Harding trailed 21-6.

Harding’s shortest drive of the season came on its next drive. Devyn Comer forced a fumble on a sack that Chris Wein recovered at the Ferris 26 and returned to the 3-yard line. A Bulldog sideline penalty put the ball at the 1. Cole Chancey scored on the next play but Harding’s two-point conversion attempt failed and the Bisons trailed 21-12 with 13:22 left.

Harding cut the lead to 21-19 with 7:57 left when Bissell took a pitch to the left and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard TD run, ending a 53-yard drive that came after a Ferris punt.

Harding forced its fifth straight three-and-out, and Ferris punted to the Harding 38. The Bisons picked up a first down, but had it negated for an illegal block penalty. Four plays later, an incomplete pass on 4th-and-8 at the Ferris 48 ended Harding’s comeback hopes.

Ferris became only the second team this season to score against Harding in the first quarter when it took the opening kickoff 85 yards on 10 plays and scored on Jevon Shaw’s 5-yard run.

The Bulldogs added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, the first came after a 14-yard punt into the wind and the second after a high snap resulted in a blocked punt. Ferris quarterback Jayru Campbell threw a 2-yard pass to Marvin Campbell for the first score, and ran in from a yard out on the second TD.

Harding lost two offensive starters and one defensive starter in the first half to injuries. Starting quarterback Preston Paden and starting wide receiver and holder Kohl Blickenstaff both left with injuries. Starting safety Daylon Markham left early in the game with a shoulder injury. Paden returned in the second half, but Blickenstaff and Markham did not.

FACTS AND FIGURES

– Harding had 17 first downs, 13 of them coming in the second half and 172 of Harding’s 262 rushing yards came in the second half.

– Ferris State had only one first down and 48 total yards in the second half. The Bulldogs had 12 first downs and 153 total yards in the game.

– Cole Chancey led Harding’s rushing attack with 101 yards on 25 carries.

– GLIAC Player of the Year Jayru Campbell rushed for only 26 yards on 16 carries and passed for only 85 yards, completing 9-of-14 passes.

The post Bisons’ comeback falls just short in NCAA playoffs appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.

KEARNEY, Neb. – The No. 8 seed Harding volleyball team fell to the ninth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul, the No. 4 seed, Friday 3-1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-13) in the semifinals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament hosted by Nebraska-Kearney.

Harding defeated the host team and the third-ranked team Nebraska-Kearney Thursday to advance to the semifinals. It was Harding’s and the Great American Conference first ever win in the NCAA Tournament.

Harding ends its season with a 28-6 record and the loss snapped a 14 match winning streak.

Concordia-St. Paul improves to 24-8 overall and will play Washburn Saturday for the central region championship.

FIRST SET

Trailing 5-4 in the first set, Harding went on a 9-1 run to lead 13-6. Concordia-St. Paul pulled within two, 18-16, but the Lady Bisons went on a 7-3 run to win the set 25-19. Harding had 11 kills in the set and held the Golden Bears to hitting .048.

SECOND SET

Concordia-St. Paul bounced back and took a 9-3 lead in the second set. The Golden Bears went on to win the set 25-14. Concordia-St. Paul had 17 kills in the set.

THIRD SET

Concordia-St. Paul continued its momentum in to the third set when it jumped out to a 14-3 lead. The Golden Bears won the set 25-14. Concordia-St. Paul had 17 kills and hit .400 in the set.

FOURTH SET

Leading 12-7, Concordia-St. Paul went on an 8-0 run to lead 20-7. The Golden Bears won the set 25-13. Concordia-St. Paul had 18 kills and hit .333 in the set.

STATS

Harding

– Zoe Hardin led Harding with nine kills and six blocks.

– Katherine Cowart and Taylor Lake each had nine digs.

– Rachel Heussner had 23 assists, eight digs and four blocks.

– Harding hit .106 in the match.

Concordia-St. Paul

– Kennedy Brady had 27 kills for the Golden Bears.

– Sara Macek had 16 kills and Brooklyn Lewis had 11 kills.

– Tori Hanson had 19 digs.

– Concordia-St. Paul had 64 kills, 30 attack errors and hit .234.

The post Four set loss ends Harding’s season in NCAA Tournament appeared first on ArkansasSports.Net.