Box - Game 1

Box - Game 2

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Harding baseball team defeated Arkansas Tech, 4-3 in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday at Tech Field but could not hold on to the lead in the second game and lost, 5-4. The win for Arkansas Tech clinched its spot in the Gulf South Conference Tournament and knocked Harding out of the race. The Bisons improved to 34-21 overall and 9-12 in GSC play. Harding's 34 wins is one win away from tying Harding's season record for number of wins. The Wonder Boys moved to 21-30-1 overall and 9-10 in conference action.

The Bisons fell behind the Wonder Boys in game one, 3-0 going in to the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Zach Fisher and Dare Saul walked. Ryan Moody then singled up the middle to score Fisher and leave two runners on for Adam Darby's three-run homer which pushed the Bisons up, 4-3.

Justin Phillips (10-3) pitched his 11^th complete game, setting Harding's season record for complete games. Phillips struck out 10 Arkansas Tech batters. His 10 wins ties him for Harding's season record. *

Darby ended the first game with three hits in four at bats. Harding totaled nine hits and both teams had three errors each. Blake Bailey (3-2) took the loss for the Wonder Boys, after allowing two earned runs. Jon Iverson pitched the first seven and two-thirds innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters.

Harding was ahead, 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning in game two. Two hits and two walks by the Wonder Boys was enough to put the winning run across the plate. Aaron Davidson (0-1) took the loss for the Bisons after Troy Kieth pitched the first five innings.

Bo Whitaker and Matt Stevens had two hits each in the second game. Harding managed 10 hits and no errors while the Wonder Boys had three erros and nine hits. J. Black had three hits for Arkansas Tech in the second game and drove in two runs.

The Bisons will play the Wonder Boys again tomorrow for a single game to begin at 2:00 p.m.

* - Season Records by Phillips in 2007

  1^st - Lowest Opponent batting average - .178 – Justin Phillips

  1^st - Most Complete Games – 11 – Justin Phillips

  1^st – Most Shutouts – 5 – Justin Phillips

  1^st - Most Innings Pitched – 96.1 – Justin Phillips

  1^st - Most Strikeouts – 121 – Justin Phillips

  t-1^st - Most Wins – 10 – Justin Phillips

  t -1^st - Most Strikeouts looking – 33 – Justin Phillips

  2^nd  - ERA - 1.21 – Justin Phillips