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Box Score 2
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Third-ranked Southern Arkansas received two outstanding pitching performances from its starters and swept Harding 10-0 and 7-0 in a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Saturday at Mulerider Field. It was the GSC opening series for both teams.
In the opener, Southern Arkansas starter Hayden Simpson (6-0), a junior who many consider the top pitcher in NCAA Division II, limited Harding to only four hits and struck out 12.
Harding (10-12, 0-2) put consecutive hits together in the second inning with Anthony Guglielmi singling with one out. Adam Robertson then singled Guglielmi around to third. After a strikeout, Harding loaded the bases when Marc McRae reached on an error, but a pop out ended the inning.
Bison junior Jason Nappi laid down a bunt single in the sixth, and McRae had an infield single in the seventh.
Harding starter Troy Keith (1-2), a high school teammate of SAU's Simpson, lasted five innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He struck out four and walked three. Senior Patrick Nappi gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Southern Arkansas (18-3, 2-0) scored the 10th run in the bottom of the seventh and ended the game on the mercy rule. The Muleriders had 13 hits, with Andrew Whittington and Adam Boucher notching three each. Senior Cannon Lester hit a two-run home run, his fifth of the season, in SAU's three-run third inning.
Southern Arkansas senior Matt Speake (3-0), a transfer from Texas A&M, pitched a two-hitter in game two. He struck out 10 and did not walk any.
Harding's hits came from McRae and Guglielmi. McRae had an infield hit in the third and Guglielmi singled to center in the seventh.
Bison starter Kyle Cline (2-3) allowed only four hits in 5 2/3 innings, but his five walks, five wild pitches and two hit batters led to six earned runs. He struck out four.
Lester hit his second home run of the day and sixth of the season, a two-run shot in the third.
The teams conclude the series Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. Harding will likely start either sophomore Alex Smith or sophomore Hayden Shirley.
