PINEVILLE, La.— Hardin-Simmons' softball team went on the road and swept Louisiana College 2-1 and 5-3 in American Southwest Conference action at Coca-Cola Field in Pineville, La.

The Wildcats were undefeated on the year in conference play coming into the game. HSU has won 10 of its last 11 games to improve to 12-8 overall and 10-7 in conference play. LC fell to 15-3 overall and 15-2 in league play.  

Game 1

Freshman Emily Hardaway tossed a gem for the Cowgirls, allowing just one unearned run in a complete-game win. She struck out three and scattered four hits. She is now 3-4 on the year.

Freshman Taylor Leger took her first loss of the season as she allowed two runs in four innings for LC. Nancy Bunting worked the final three innings.

HSU scored a run in the first when Carley Willis and Kara LeLeux drew two out walks and freshman Braleigh Middleton drove home Willis with a single to center.

LC tied the game in the fourth on a Cowgirl error the only one of the game for HSU.

The Cowgirls regained the lead in the fifth inning when freshman Jayme Ashley led off with a single and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshmen Katelyn Joyner that was misplayed into an error. Mac Clay was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sydnie Darden reached on a fielder's choice that forced Ashley out at the plate and then Willis reached on a fielder's choice that drove home Joyner with the eventual winning run.

Willis and Middleton each had a single and RBI to pace HSU. Megan Pearson had two of the four hits for LC.

Game 2

In the nightcap, the Cowgirls scored three runs in the final two innings to secure the win.

Stephanie Jaeger hit a solo home run in the first for LC. HSU tied the game in the second on a Sarah Truelove sacrifice fly.

LC battled back for a run in the third on a Sandra Ouchley RBI single. HSU retied the game in the fourth on a LeLeux home run to left center.

The game stayed 2-2 until the sixth when LeLuex led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Middleton RBI groundout to second.

HSU added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Mac Clay and an RBI single by Darden. LC got a sacrifice fly from Jessica Johnson in the seventh but Keeley Lowrance closed it out.

Lowrance went seven innings and scattered seven hits and allowed just two earned runs. She is now 7-2 on the year. Madison Vige allowed two runs and was relieved by Abby Maillet, who allowed five hits and three runs in five innings to fall to 5-1 on the year.

Darden and LeLeux had two hits each for HSU in a seven-hit attack. Ouchley had two hits for LC.  

The teams will conclude the series with a single game at noon on Saturday.  

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