Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Last season, Harding's baseball team failed to score a run in a three-game Gulf South Conference series against Henderson State and the losses cost the Bisons a spot in the conference tournament.

These are not last season's Bisons. Harding scored 17 runs Saturday in winning both games of the doubleheader over Henderson State, 9-4 and 8-4.

With the victories, Harding improved to 34-8, tying the most wins ever in a season by a Bison baseball team. Harding improved to 11-3 in GSC West play and stayed in the hunt for its first regular season title. Henderson State fell to 17-18-1 overall and 5-8-1 in conference.

In the opener, Harding's top three hitters accounted for six hits, seven runs and seven RBI. Leadoff hitter Chase Presley had two hits, including his team-leading 17th double, and scored three runs. Billy Ninemire hit his first home run of the season, scored twice and drove in three runs, and Jason Nappi went 2-for-4 with two runs, four RBI and his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a three-run home run in Harding's four-run ninth inning.

Trent Kinnear also homered for Harding, his fourth of the season. The Bisons had 12 hits in the game; eight were for extra bases, including five doubles and three home runs. It was the second time this season Harding hit three home runs in a game.

Lucas Waddell (7-1) went 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits to earn the win for the Bisons. Marc McRae pitched a perfect inning, and Ninemire picked up the last four outs to earn his first save.

Henderson State had seven hits in the opener with Jose Mendoza and Kendal Norman collecting two each. Reddie starter Nathan Eller (3-4) was saddled with the loss despite recording 14 strikeouts in seven innings.

Two big innings keyed Harding's victory in game two. The Bisons scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Erin McCarver drove in two of the runs with a double and scored on Kinnear's RBI single.

Henderson State cut the lead to 4-3 after five innings, but Harding plated four in the sixth to blow the game open. All four runs scored with two outs. Kinnear drove in a run with a triple and scored on Charles Bradley's single. Presley also singled in a run and Paul Anzalone scored on a wild pitch.

Brodie Brumeley (3-3) pitched well to even his record. He allowed only three earned runs in six innings and struck out seven. Henderson State's Tyler O'Bryant (3-2) suffered the loss. He yielded six earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia, Ark.