Harding Falls To Arkansas Tech In Season Finale

By Amanda Pruitt

Senior Zach Fisher hit a double and scored a run for the Bisons on Sunday

Box Score SEARCY -- The Harding Bisons took both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Arkansas Tech but could not complete the series sweep Sunday. Arkansas Tech pitcher Tyler Mattox threw a two-hit complete game to help the Wonder Boys to a 6-2 victory over Harding at Jerry Moore Field.

Harding (27-21, 9-10 Gulf South) had won the first two games of the series by scores of 7-2 and 7-4 to clinch a spot in the GSC Tournament for the first time since 2002 and the second time since joining the conference in 2000. Arkansas Tech (22-23, 9-11) was eliminated from playoff contention with the pair of losses Saturday.

On Sunday, Arkansas Tech scored a run in the first inning and added three more in the second inning on an RBI single by Austin Gwatney and a two-run home run by Justin Holloway, his second of the season.

Both of Harding's runs came from fielding mistakes by the Wonder Boys. Senior Ben Rodriguez, who played center field for the first time in his career Sunday, scored on an error at first base in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Will McDonald entered the game as a pinch runner for junior Aaron Roberts after he had been hit by a pitch and later scored on a passed ball as Harding trailed 4-2 after three innings.

Mattox (3-2) allowed only two Harding runners for the final six innings and faced the minimum 18 batters. He struck out three and walked one batter with only 107 pitches. Senior Michael Skinner (4-5) pitched 5.2 innings and allowed nine hits and two earned runs in the loss.

The Bisons will travel to USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn., for the GSC Tournament next weekend. Harding will face Valdosta State, the No. 1 seed from the East Division, on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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