WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Softball fell 4-1 to No. 17-ranked Harding on Saturday afternoon in their home conference opener. The Bulldogs were upended by a four-run sixth inning, in which the Lady Bisons finally broke through on the scoreboard.

Starting pitcher Alexis Taylor (L, 4-2) was locked in a pitcher's duel with Harding's arm through the first five innings. Through the fourth, the fast-paced game saw just four base runners between the teams. No half inning had more than one. 

In the fourth, the Bulldogs had a scoring opportunity when Chesnie Hewitt doubled to lead off the inning. However, she was eventually stranded after three straight retired batters.

In the next half-inning, SWOSU escaped a bases-loaded jam thanks to a double play off a line drive with the bases loaded.

Harding finally scored in the sixth with back-to-back hits to start the frame. A single began the rally, followed by an obstruction call that allowed the runner to reach second instead of being caught stealing. A double then plated the first run, followed by an infield throwing error that scored another run, and finally a two-run home run to cap off the scoring.

Riley Lusk drove in Jadyn Hook for SWOSU's lone run in the bottom half of the sixth. The Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate with two outs but couldn't produce anything else to extend the inning.

A line drive double play in the bottom of the seventh all but ended SWOSU's scoring chances for a potential comeback.

Taylor threw 5.1 innings, striking out seven, walking one, and allowing all four runs – though only two were earned. Hannah Nieuwenhuis and Kaylee Barkley made scoreless relief appearances in the sixth and seventh.

Katie Boline (2-3) led the lineup with a pair of singles. Hewitt recorded SWOSU's lone extra-base hit.

The loss drops the Dawgs to 5-6 on the year and 0-1 in conference play. They'll be back in action Sunday for the doubleheader portion of the series against Harding, beginning at noon in Weatherford.