Tweet #theGAC  BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Southeastern Oklahoma State pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth inning in rallying for a 2-1 victory against Harding in Saturday’s second semifinal of the Great American Conference Under Armour Softball Championships from the Tiger Athletic Complex.
 
Trailing 1-0 after a lead off home run by the Lady Bisons’ Ashton Bryce, the Savage Storm (36-10) opened the fifth inning with Jaleigh Durst reaching on an error by Harding (34-12) catcher Chelsea Blankenship. Augusta Duty bunted back to Lady Bisons pitcher Lily Tanksi, who tried to get the lead runner, but Durst beat the throw. A wild pitch advanced both runners.
 
Karissa Marshall lifted a fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly to tie the contest. After a Bailey Beard strikeout, the Savage Storm finally collected their first hit of the inning when Kady Fryrear doubled home Duty.
 
Pitching with the lead for the first time in the contest, Savage Storm pitcher Amberlyn Walsworth retired seven straight Lady Bisons before surrendering a one-out double in the seventh inning to Makenzie Chappel. She induced pop outs from Jordan Cabana and Amanda Fields to secure her 18^th victory of the season.
 
Walsworth, the GAC Freshman of the Year, outdueled Tanksi, the Pitcher of the Year. She struck out three and did not walk a batter. Tanski fell to 22-7 despite not allowing an earned run and recording her 20^th complete game.
 
Southeastern advances to the title match for a GAC-leading fifth time. The Savage Storm’s lone title came in 2013. They will face Arkansas Tech in a rematch of the 2019 final, won 5-1 by the Golden Suns. In the regular season, Southeastern took two out of three from Arkansas Tech.