Box Score

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – It was starting to look like déjà vu all over again for the Harding baseball team.

In the second game of a three-game Gulf South Conference series between Harding and Ouachita Baptist, the Bisons led by four runs going into the bottom of the last inning. Ouachita Baptist rallied to score five and win the game.

Sunday, in the series' third game, Harding again held a four-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning. This time Ouachita Baptist scored three runs and Harding held on for a 9-8 victory. Senior Donny Stephens pitched the last two innings for the Bisons.

Harding, ranked 30th in Division II, battered Ouachita Baptist starter Sam McGill (0-1) for eight runs (six earned) in the game's first five innings. The Bisons, who had five extra-base hits in the game, led 8-4 entering the seventh.

Ouachita Baptist (11-17, 1-5) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Harding (26-5, 5-1) answered with a run on a Jeremy Bohnett sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to give the Bisons a 9-5 lead.

With one out in the ninth, Ouachita Baptist's Brock Green reached on an error and scored after singles by Keegan Ghidotti and Tom Ward. Ghidotti scored on an RBI groundout by Cass Via, and Ward later scored on a passed ball that cut Harding's lead to one. After Landon Moore walked, Stephens retired Duncan Collins on a fly out to centerfield.

After using much of its bullpen in Saturday's doubleheader, Harding needed a strong effort from sophomore starter Lucas Waddell (5-0). He delivered by lasting seven innings and allowing 10 hits and five runs (three earned) and striking out four.

Sophomore Billy Ninemire went 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a double for the Bisons. Senior Trent Kinnear had two hits.

Harding returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Arkansas-Fort Smith for a single game beginning at 2 p.m.