Box Score
CLEVELAND, MISS. – Two of the top pitchers in the Gulf South Conference dueled Sunday as Harding's Justin Phillips took on Delta State's Rusty Rayborn. Both gave up three runs, but the Statesmen prevailed with a 6-3 victory over the Bisons to complete a three-game series sweep.
Harding (22-16, 1-8 GSC) reached Rayborn first on a solo home run by senior Devin Watts in the fourth. Watts had two hits in the series, both home runs.
Phillips held Delta State (29-9, 6-3 GSC) without a run in his first five innings of work. But in the sixth, the Statesmen got the first two runners on with walks by Hunter Jobes and Patrick Williams. Sophomore Clay Sartain then gave Delta State the lead for good with a three-run home run, his second of the season. Phillips (6-3) then retired the last three batters he faced. He allowed five hits and three earned runs, walking four and striking out six.
Delta State added a pair of runs in the seventh off Harding reliever Brian McCrackin to take a 5-1 lead.
The Bisons answered with two in the eighth on RBI singles by sophomore Ryan Moody and junior Adam Darby. That was all Harding got off Rayborn (4-2), who completed the game, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out six.
Harding's seven hits came from seven different batters. Delta State had 10 hits, with two each coming from Jobes, Sartain, and Jareck West.
The Bisons are back in action Tuesday in non-conference action. Harding hosts Williams Baptist in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Jerry Moore Field.
