WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The SWOSU Softball team stood toe-to-toe with No. 23-ranked Harding on Friday, getting a split against the Lady Bisons in a pair of extra-inning games played at the Athletic Complex in Weatherford.

SWOSU (7-5, 1-1 GAC) will conclude their four-game Great American Conference series against Harding on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am.

SWOSU 5, #23 Harding 4 (8 inn.)

A fielder's choice off the bat of Paige Bowler was mishandled by Harding's second baseman, allowing Miranda McDonald to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning in Friday's opener. SWOSU led 3-0 after five innings, then surrendered a grand slam in the top of the sixth but responded and tied the game on an RBI single from Samantha Householder in the bottom of the seventh.

Harding got two runners on base with one out in the top of the eighth, but Miranda Grover got out of the jam with a strikeout and line out, setting the stage for another walk off opportunity. McDonald got a one-out single and moved up to third after the Lady Bisons tried to throw her out and instead threw the ball past second base. Kaytlin Donaldson was intentionally walked to load the bases for Householder, who came through with a hit at the Harding second baseman, who bobbled the ball and was unable to throw out McDonald at the plate.

SWOSU got two hits apiece from Tori Hawk and Samantha Householder, while Paige Bowler scored twice. Taya Haney pitched the first 5.0 innings but was pulled after Harding took the lead in the sixth. Miranda Grover threw the final 3.0 innings, allowing just one hit and three baserunners to pick up the win and improve to 4-0 on the year.

#23 Harding 6, SWOSU 4 (8 inn.)

SWOSU left seven runners on base in the first six innings, pushing none across before a four-run seventh inning tied the score at 4-4 and forced extra innings once again. In the extra frame, Harding pushed two runs across and sat the Dawgs down in order to pick up the doubleheader split.

Trailing 4-0, SWOSU got a single from Rileigh Ricken before Tori Hawk was issued a free pass and Taya Haney added an infield single to load the bases. Kaytlin Donaldson started to empty the bags with a two-run single the bounced off of third base and down the line, scoring Hawk and Miranda McDonald, who had pinch ran for Ricken, to make it 4-2.

A wild pitch from Harding moved SWOSU's baserunners up to second and third, putting the tying run at second base. Paige Bowler came through in the clutch with a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game and put the winning run at second base with one out in the inning. Harding then intentionally walked Samantha Householder and got Bailey King and Allyson Gafford out to force extra innings.

SWOSU had nine hits in the game, three of which came off the bat of Donaldson while Bowler and Haney had two apiece. Taylor Eaves settled in nicely against the Lady Bisons, throwing a complete game and allowing six runs – five earned – on 10 hits to earn the tough-luck loss and fall to 0-4 on the year.