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Box Score 2
MONTICELLO, ARK. – Harding got all the offense it needed in the first inning to win the first game of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Friday at Arkansas-Monticello. The Bisons won the opener 7-2 before the offense disappeared in an 11-1 loss in game two.
Harding (19-23, 4-13 GSC) had seven of its first eight batters score in the first inning off Arkansas-Monticello starter Tyler Price (1-3) . In the inning, the Bisons had five singles, doubles by Devin Watts and Clay Kiihnl, and a walk by Adam Darby. The final hit of the inning, a two-run single by Chase Chandler came after reliever Dillon Reynolds entered the game.
After the first inning, Reynolds limited the Bisons to only one hit the rest of the way. Arkansas-Monticello (24-17, 6-13) could not overcome the early deficit, however, as Harding starter Jeff Davis (4-3) stranded 10 Boll Weevil runners in pitching the Bisons’ first nine-inning complete game of the season. In collecting the victory, Davis became the first Harding pitcher with two wins in conference play this season. He allowed 10 hits and two runs and struck out three.
Cody Tornberg had four of UAM’s 10 hits in the opener.
The Bisons matched their GSC win total from last season with the victory and surpassed their overall victory total from a year ago.
Harding’s offense remained stagnate in game two, as the Bisons managed only two hits off Arkansas-Monticello ace righthander Aaron Cotter (9-2). Cotter struck out 10 and gave up only one unearned run in the top of the first inning.
Watts and pinch-hitter Clint Williams had Harding’s only two base hits.
Justin Phillips (4-3) suffered the loss for the Bisons, allowing four earned runs in 4.0 innings. Defensively, Harding committed four errors that led to seven unearned runs for the Boll Weevils.
Nate Black was 4-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the Weevil attack that scored three in the third, three in the fourth, and four in the fifth.
The two teams complete the three-game series Saturday with a single nine-inning game beginning at 1 p.m.
