The Harrisburg softball team swept the Terry Early Memorial Softball Tournament in New Franklin on Saturday, claiming the title in a 2-0 defeat of area rival Fayette in the championship game.

The Lady Bulldogs opened the day with a 5-2 win over Madison before advancing to the championship with a semifinal shutout of Westran, 15-0.

Sophomore Lillian Hirner and senior Brette Ackman combined for 11 strikeouts from the pitching circle in Game 1 against Madison. Hirner allowed two hits without a run and retired three batters on strikes in the first two innings from the circle. Ackman struck out eight of 21 batters faced in five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks.

At the plate, the Bulldogs drove in five runs on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout. Sophomore Cameron Gray, senior Jillian Stidham, Ackman, and freshman Avery Hill each recorded two hits. Sophomore Layla Moxley had a double. Jillian Stidham doubled and Hill tripled.

The Bulldogs shutout Westran 15-0 in four innings after outhitting the Hornets 11-1 in the championship semifinal. Ackman led Harrisburg with three hits in four at-bats with an RBI and three runs scored. Stidham went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior Katelyn Cook drove in a game-high three runs with two hits in three at-bats and scored twice. Gray went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored twice. Hill scored and drive in a run in a 1-for-2 performance. Moxley went 1-for-2 with the team’s only extra-bases hit, an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Jackie Stidham added one hit.

In the circle, Led strickout five of 10 batters faced over three innings, surrendering only one hit. J. Stidham mopped up the final three batters, including two groundouts and a pop out.

The Bulldogs got an early look at Central State 8 and Class 2 District 3 opponent Fayette in the tournament’s championship game. Harrisburg pulled off the win despite committing three errors and outhit the Falcons 7-5.

Bulldogs’ ace Camryn Gray claimed the shutout after recording a game-high six strikeouts. She gave up five hits, including a double, and walked one, but didn’t surrender a run.

Harrisburg took an early one-run lead in the bottom of the first after leading off with a double by Gray. Jillian Stidham drove in Gray on an RBI single.

The Bulldogs made it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the fifth, in a repeat of the first inning. Gray again led off with a double, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Carly Ott. Stidham then drove her home, this time with a sacrifice fly to right.

Fayette put two runners on base in the top of the first with two outs, but couldn't drive them home. The Falcons stranded six base runners on all game. Senior Brooklyn Wies was left on base after doubling in the third. Sophomore Blakley Baylor and senior Kennady Vroman each singled in the fifth. Senior Greycen Syferd singled in the sixth and Baylor reached on an error in the top of the seventh.

Freshman ace Brylee Eubanks struck out two in a complete-game, six inning performance for the Falcons. She allowed two earned runs on seven hits and one walk.

On Monday, Harrisburg improved to 11-1 with a six-inning shutout  at Russellville, 12-0. It was the Bulldogs’ second conference win of the season after winning a 3-2 decision over Eugene 3-2 on Thursday.

Harrisburg hosts Fayette on Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.