SEARCY, Ark. — Harding accomplished a three-game sequence sweep of Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, leaning on a historic pitching efficiency within the opener and a high-powered offensive explosion within the nightcap to safe 4-3 and 13-6 victories at Jerry Moore Field.
The sweep strikes Harding (23-16, 17-10 GAC) into sole possession of third place within the Great American Conference standings. The Bisons now sit two video games behind Arkansas Tech for second and three video games again of chief Arkansas-Monticello.
Game 1: Harding 4, Oklahoma Baptist 3 Senior right-hander Merritt Jay etched his title into the Harding report books within the first recreation of the doubleheader. Jay (5-2) earned the win after tossing seven innings of four-hit ball, putting out eight.
The victory was the twenty fifth of Jay’s profession, making him solely the third pitcher in program historical past to succeed in that mark. He is now tied with Lucas Waddell (2010-13) for second place on the all-time record, trailing solely report holder Maddox Long (29).
The milestone was significantly poignant as Waddell was in attendance as a part of a ceremony celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of Harding’s 2011 NCAA Regional event workforce.
Harding trailed 1-0 till the sixth inning when Cooper Newsom and Collin Helms delivered RBI singles. In the seventh, Logan Lacey added a sacrifice fly and Helms drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to offer the required insurance coverage. Austin Kelley earned his third save regardless of a late two-run rally by the Bison within the ninth.
Game 2: Harding 13, Oklahoma Baptist 6 The Bisons’ bats took over within the sequence finale, highlighted by a seven-run fourth inning. Jack Opoien supplied the large blow, a grand slam to left discipline that prolonged the Harding result in 11-2.
Shortstop Cooper Newsom completed the sport with 4 RBIs, together with a two-run single within the fourth. With that efficiency, Newsom reached 50 RBIs for the season. He joins Jason Nappi (2010-11) as the one gamers in Harding historical past to report 50 or extra RBIs in consecutive seasons.
Ryan Romolo (5-2) earned the win, permitting one earned run over 4 innings of labor. Nathan Bowie set the tone on the high of the lineup, reaching base 3 times and scoring three runs.
Oklahoma Baptist (18-21, 11-16 GAC) struggled defensively, committing three errors within the finale and 5 whole throughout the doubleheader. Teagon Standlee (2-3) took the loss, charged with seven runs in three-plus innings.
Harding returns to motion Tuesday for a nonconference residence recreation in opposition to Henderson State. First pitch is scheduled for six p.m.