Box Score

SEARCY – Christian Brothers junior Yogi Vanaman went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and seven RBI to lead the Bucs to an 18-16 victory over Harding in the finale of a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Jerry Moore Field on Saturday. Harding won the first two games of the series Friday.

The victory for the Bucs (5-29, 1-10) was their first in GSC West play. Harding fell to 19-18 overall and 5-6 in the GSC West.

Harding came from behind four times in the game and took a 16-15 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Will McDonald scored Erin McCarver with an RBI single to right and Trent Kinnear came in right behind him with the go-ahead run as Buc centerfielder Matt Van Slyke overran the ball.

The Bucs took the lead for the fifth different time in the game in the top of the ninth. Christian Brothers loaded the bases with two outs after Vanaman reached on an infield single. Harding shortstop Charles Bradley made a great play and nearly threw out Vanaman to end the game. Joseph Kaminski then hit a slow grounder to Chase Presley at third, and his throw to first was low and got past first baseman Jason Nappi. All three runners scored. Harding went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

Aaron Short (1-1) the fifth Christian Brothers pitcher, earned the win. He allowed one earned run in 1 2/3 innings. Short started the game as the Bucs' third baseman.

Freshman Tyler Billen (3-1) suffered his first loss. He allowed five runs (three earned) in 2 1/3 innings.

Harding committed a season-high five errors in the game that led to five unearned runs. The Bisons also did not capitalize on a school-record tying 15 walks, leaving a season-high 13 runners on base.

Five different Harding hitters had two hits in the game. Clay West and McCarver each scored three times and McDonald drove in three.

The game lasted three hours and 40 minutes, the longest game for the Bisons since April 5, 2005, another 3 hour and 40 minute game against Christian Brothers in Memphis. That game lasted only seven innings.

Harding is back in action Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader against Lyon. First pitch at Jerry Moore Field is at 1 p.m.