Box Score SEARCY – The Harding Bisons collected a season-high 14 hits and tied a school record with nine stolen bases to earn an 11-5 victory over Peru State at Jerry Moore Field on Friday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep. Harding (7-1) had defeated Peru State 6-12 and 12-2 in Thursday's doubleheader.
Peru State (3-4-1) scored three runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The Bisons tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the inning when junior Wisley Correa grounded out to second base to score junior Aaron Roberts.
Harding took the lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs on just two hits. Junior Randall Hunt hit a two-run double to right-center field, and two batters later, Matt Stevens hit a home run – Harding's first of the season – to give the Bisons a 9-5 lead.
Roberts led Harding with four hits and three runs scored. Hunt batted 3-for-5 with three runs, and Correa also had two hits.
Junior Shane Bishop pitched 3 and 1/3 innings of relief and recorded the win, the first of his career. Joakin Claesson picked up the loss for Peru State.
The Bisons' nine steals were the most by this season, tying a school record set in 2002 against Ozarks (Ark.). Roberts tied the school record with three steals.
Harding will play a doubleheader against Crichton in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, beginning at 2 p.m.
