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SEARCY – The Harding baseball team hit a grand slam in each game of its doubleheader sweep of College of the Ozarks on Saturday at Jerry Moore Field, defeating the Bobcats 13-3 and 9-6. The two victories completed a sweep of the three-game weekend series for the Bisons.
Harding (18-7) improved to 17-3 at home this season. Ozarks (11-9) had its road losing streak extended to five games.
With Harding leading 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one, Bison senior Devin Watts blasted the first grand slam to left-center field. The Tahlequah, Okla., native also had a two-run triple and an RBI double in the game. His seven runs batted in were the second most in a Harding single-game and the most since Mike Huebner's 11-RBI game against University of the Ozarks in 1999.
Harding sophomore Dare Saul collected the first four-hit game by a Bison this season and scored three runs. Harding's 13 hits were a season-high.
Senior left-hander Justin Phillips (5-1) earned the win on the mound with his sixth complete game of the season. Phillips tied a season high with eight strikeouts and allowed only two hits and two earned runs.
Jim Posey's home run in the fourth inning was one of Ozarks' two hits.
Harding junior Adam Darby broke open game two with a grand slam in the third inning that gave the Bisons a 5-1 lead. Ozarks trimmed the lead to 5-3 before Harding's Jordan Blake launched a three-run, pinch-hit home run in the sixth to give the Bisons a 9-3 advantage.
Ozarks added three runs in the top of the seventh before Harding closer Aaron Davidson closed the door for his seventh save of the season. He is only one off the Bison single-season save record.
Harding freshman Troy Keith remained perfect at 4-0 with the victory. He struck out three and allowed six hits and two earned runs in 5.0 innings. Ozarks starter Kevin Roe (3-1) lost for the first time, allowing five earned runs in 4.0 innings.
Harding continues its 17-game home stand Tuesday with a single game against Bemidji State beginning at 1 p.m.
