Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SEARCY – Delta State pitching limited Harding baseball to only two runs and 10 hits, and the Statesmen swept the Bisons in a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Friday at Jerry Moore Field. Delta State won by scores of 6-1 and 2-1.

Harding (35-10, 12-5) entered the doubleheader with a one-game lead over Delta State and Arkansas Tech in the Gulf South Conference West Division. With the losses, Harding dropped a game behind Delta State, who was ranked No. 7 in the South Region Rankings. Harding was No. 8 entering the series.

In the opener, 19th-ranked Harding had just four hits against Delta State starter Josh Branstetter (7-1), who pitched a complete game and struck out six with no walks. It was his seventh straight win after dropping his first decision of the season.

Delta State (28-15, 13-4) capitalized on two Harding errors in the first inning to score three unearned runs off Bison starter Lucas Waddell (6-2). The Statesmen added another unearned run in the second and single runs in the fifth and seventh.

Waddell allowed 10 hits and six runs (two earned), walked two and struck out five. Cameron Walker, Alex Smith and Daniel Niehls combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief.

Sophomore Billy Ninemire had two of Harding's four hits, both singles, and Trent Kinnear hit his 10th double of the season. The Bisons' run came in the first when Chase Presley singled to lead off the inning and scored on Jason Nappi's ground out.

Delta State starter Aaron Newcomb (6-6) limited Harding to six hits in game two. Harding starter Brodie Brumley (3-4), a senior making his final start at Jerry Moore Field, matched Newcomb pitch-for-pitch for seven innings.

With the score tied at 1-1, Brumley pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his 40 career starts. Delta State's Craig Hermann and Chris Escobar each singled with one out. Michael Niemann then grounded to Harding first baseman Billy Ninemire who threw to second to force Escobar, but the return throw to first sailed into the Delta State dugout and Hermann scored the eventual game-winning run.

Delta State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held it until the bottom of the fifth. Bison senior Clay West led off with a single, went to second on a balk and third on a sacrifice bunt. He scored on Paul Anzalone's single to center.

Brumley went eight innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs. He struck out four and walked none.

Presley was the only Bison with two hits in the game. Both hits were doubles and gave Presley the Harding single-season record with 21 doubles. He broke the record of current teammate Anthony Guglielmi, who had 19 doubles last season.

The teams complete the three-game series Saturday at Jerry Moore Field beginning at 1 p.m.