Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – Ouachita Baptist used a furious rally in game one and an outstanding starting pitching effort in game two to sweep Harding in a Gulf South Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Rab Rodgers Field. The Tigers took the opener 10-9 and game two 4-1. The two teams meet in the series finale Sunday.
Ouachita Baptist (29-20, 14-5) tied a school record with their 29th win of the season. The Tigers are currently in second place in the GSC West Division and headed to their first-ever GSC Tournament. Harding (19-27, 4-16) had lost five straight.
The Bisons led game one 9-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Ouachita Baptist had three hits and benefitted from a Harding error in each of the last two innings to score three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to complete the comeback.
Chance Beasley scored the game-winning run off Harding reliever Mike Davis (1-6) on a bunt by Dave Fischer.
Davis allowed six runs (four earned) in 2.0 innings after relieving Harding starter Jeff Davis. Jeff Davis went 6.1 innings and allowed only one earned run on seven hits.
Harding’s three errors led to five unearned runs for Ouachita Baptist.
Jeremy Hayworth (2-0) got the final two outs in the top of the ninth to collect the win for OBU.
Harding’s nine runs were the most by the Bisons in a GSC game this season and the most in a conference game since a 12-8 win over Ouachita Baptist in the opener of last year’s series. The Bisons had 11 hits in the game, led by Bo Whitaker, who notched his first three-hit game of the season.
Both pitchers went the distance in game two, with OBU’s Steve Smith (5-4) outduling Harding’s Justin Phillips (4-4).
Smith struck out 10 Bisons and allowed only one unearned run over 7.0 innings. He gave up nine hits but did not walk a batter.
Ouachita Baptist scored all four of its runs in the second inning off Phillips. Fischer and Kevin Holley each had two-run singles in the inning. Phillips gave up eight hits and struck out six.
Harding scored its lone run in the top of the sixth. Whitaker scored pinch-runner Blake Robertson from third on an infield single. Ben Wimberly and Ryan Moody each had two hits for the Bisons. Harding left nine runners on base, tying the most by the Bisons in a GSC game this season.
