Box Score

SEARCY – The Harding baseball team did its part Saturday to keep its Gulf South Conference Tournament hopes alive. Every hitter in the Bison starting lineup had a hit and sophomore Kyle Cline was outstanding on the mound as Harding defeated Arkansas Tech 13-3 in the first game of the three-game series.

The game ended in the bottom of the seventh due to the GSC's 10-run mercy rule.

Harding (24-23, 8-10) needs to win both games Sunday, and Arkansas-Monticello needs to win three games at Henderson State for the Bisons to make the tournament.

With the game tied 3-3 after five innings, Harding scored four in the sixth and six more in the seventh to pick up the win. Junior Charles Bradley had the big hit in the sixth, a two-run double. After Tech relievers walked in two runs with the bases loaded, freshman Erin McCarver doubled in the final two runs to give Harding its 10-run margin.

Cline (4-6) allowed only two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against one of the most potent offenses in the country.  Arkansas Tech (33-15, 13-5) entered the game with a .355 team batting average and 9.6 runs scored per game.

Freshman Tyler Billen entered the game in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and only one out and Harding leading 7-3. Billen got out of the inning with no runners scoring and earned his first collegiate save.

Harding battered Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Josh Floriani (10-2), one of the top pitchers in the GSC this season. Floriani allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Chase Presley had two hits for the Bisons. Clay West, Harding's leadoff hitter scored three runs, and McCarver drove in four.

Chad Wynn, Nick Makris and Clint Stroud had two hits each for Arkansas Tech.

The series concludes Sunday with a noon doubleheader. Harding's four seniors—Troy Keith, Patrick Nappi, Donny Stephens and Will McDonald—will be honored before the first game.