Box Score
CONWAY, ARK. – Central Arkansas’ three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Bears a 6-5 victory over Harding in non-conference baseball action Tuesday at UCA Field. The Bisons, which dropped their third straight in an attempt to collect their 20th victory of the season, end their current nine-game road trip Saturday and Sunday in Gulf South Conference play at Ouachita Baptist.
Harding (19-25) led 5-3 entering the bottom of the last inning. Matt Warren led off the inning with his fifth home run of the season, taking it out to left field off Bison reliever Casey Benincosa (2-1). Roger Lenderman then was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a Harding fielding error.
Later in the inning, with runners on first and third with one out, Craig Nyborg grounded to Harding second baseman Zach Fisher who threw to second to get the second out. Nyborg then beat the throw to first allowing Chris Davis to score the winning run from third.
Freshman Ben Wimberly was the catalyst for the Harding offense, hitting from the leadoff spot. He had his second three-hit game of the season, scoring in the first inning after leading off the game with a walk. In the second inning Wimberly doubled to drive in a run. The Madison, Ala., native also singled and scored in the ninth. Adam Darby also had three hits for Harding.
Central Arkansas (27-13) had 10 hits in the game, led by Warren with three.
Brian Blankenship (3-1) picked up the win in relief for the Bears.
Harding starter Brian McCrackin lasted 6.2 innings and allowed only one earned run on seven hits.
