SEARCY, Ark. – Harding University swept Saturday's Great American Conference baseball doubleheader over Oklahoma Baptist, winning by scores of 4-3 and 16-3.
OBU dropped to 18-21 overall and 11-16 in the conference, which slots them in tenth with six GAC games remaining. The top eight teams will make the postseason tourney in a little more than two weeks.
GAME ONE
Harding used a pair of mid-game rallies to slip past Oklahoma Baptist, 4-3, during game one at Jerry Moore Field.
After three scoreless innings, OBU broke through in the fourth when
Ben Green launched a solo home run to right, giving the Bison an early 1-0 lead. That advantage held until the sixth, when Harding strung together timely hits to flip the game. Cooper Newsom delivered an RBI single to tie it, and Collin Helms followed with another run-scoring knock to put the hosts ahead 2-1.
Harding added insurance in the seventh, capitalizing on defensive miscues. A throwing error helped set the table before Logan Lacey lifted a sacrifice fly, and Helms later drove in another run after being hit by a pitch, extending the lead to 4-1.
The green and gold threatened late against reliever Austin Kelley in the ninth.
Braden Smith singled and advanced into scoring position, and
Zane Bennett brought home a run with a base hit.
Isaac Hill added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one, but the rally fell just short.
Both teams finished with seven hits, but Harding made the most of its opportunities while taking advantage of two OBU errors.
GAME TWO
Harding used a decisive fourth-inning explosion to pull away from the Bison and secure a 13-6 victory in the finale.
HU struck first with a run in the opening frame and added three more in the second to build an early 4-0 lead. Oklahoma Baptist chipped away, scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings to cut the deficit in half. However, Harding delivered the game's defining moment in the bottom of the fourth, erupting for seven runs on just three hits, aided by walks and wild pitches. The inning was capped by Jack Opoien's grand slam to left, stretching the lead to 11-2.
Oklahoma Baptist showed resilience at the plate, finishing with 11 hits.
Matt Marsic led the way, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double, while
Lucas Schaefer added two hits and an RBI. The Bison also plated two runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh but could not overcome the large deficit.
Harding tallied 10 hits but made the most of its opportunities, drawing six walks and capitalizing on three OBU errors. Opoien finished with four RBI, while Cooper Newsom drove in four as well. Nathan Bowie scored three runs and reached base three times.
Ryan Romolo earned the win after allowing two runs (one earned) over four innings.
Teagon Standlee took the loss, surrendering seven runs in three innings.
OBU returns to action on April 14 at 5 p.m. against East Central at Bobby Cox Field. That's the first of eight straight regular-season games at home to close the regular season.
