High-energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM) enables time-resolved 3D characterization of grain-scale deformation during mechanical testing, but past studies have revealed unintentionally imposed bending moments that complicate data analysis and coupling with microstructure-sensitive models. In this work, we conduct an in-situ HEDM experiment on the polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy IN718 under combined bending and tension, and perform crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) simulations of the experimental microstructure under both bending-tension and pure tension loading. Tracking grain-by-grain strains and intragranular orientation distributions throughout loading reveals a persistent effect of bending in both macroscopic elasticity and plasticity. The CPFE predictions also show that the grains accumulating the highest and lowest amounts of slip can be sensitive to bending. Finally, we offer recommendations for interpreting and modeling HEDM experiments that contain bending moments.