SEARCY, Ark. – Harding University struck for four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in a 9-5 win over visiting Midwestern State on Friday afternoon at the Harding Invitational held at the HU Softball Complex.

The first four Bisons reached base in the opening frame against Mattye Tyler, who struggled with her control all afternoon. The sophomore walked nine and threw seven wild pitches across six innings of work. Tyler (0-2) yielded nine runs (eight earned).

With two runs already home in the first, Briley Feringa made it 3-0 in favor of the Bisons with a sacrifice fly. An error later in the frame made it 4-0 before the Mustangs came to bat. 

MSU Texas cut into the deficit in the bottom of the second when Anna Williams belted her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, over the wall in left.

Harding answered with a run in the third before taking an 8-2 lead in the fourth on an Amanda Fields three-run home run. 

The Mustangs scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to creep closer at 8-5. Williams knocked in her third run of the game with a single to right before Bailey Wamsley followed with an RBI single of her own. Ashley Turner capped off the three run inning with an run scoring groundout. 

HU finished off the scoring with a run in the sixth. 

Kathryn Wells tossed a scoreless inning of relief in a rebound outing after taking the loss earlier in the day against Northeastern State (Okla.). 

Midwestern State continues play at the Harding Invitational on Saturday afternoon with a pair of games. The Mustangs will take on Drury (Mo.) at 10 a.m. before closing out play with a 12 p.m. contest against Delta State (Miss.).