SEARCY – Harding senior Anthony Guglielmi's single to center field scored pinch-runner Paul Anzalone with the winning run as the 17th-ranked Bisons defeated Quincy 7-6 on Friday at Jerry Moore Field.

The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon to conclude the three-game series.

Harding (15-5) led 6-5 going into the ninth inning but Bison reliever Cameron Walker (4-0) walked Curran Collins with the bases loaded to tie the game. Walker then struck out Peter Cunningham to end the threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Matt Calhoun lifted a fly ball into left field to lead off the inning. Quincy leftfielder Ryan Richardson slipped in the wet grass in the outfield, and Calhoun cruised into second with a double, his fourth hit of the game and second double.

Anzalone came on as a pinch runner, and Guglielmi hit a chopper up the middle that was fielded by centerfielder Joe Williams whose throw home made it in the air to catcher Riley Howden. With Howden blocking the plate, Anzalone was called safe at home on defensive obstruction by umpire Melvin Caldwell.

It was the second controversial call in two innings that went against Quincy. In the eighth, the Hawks had the bases loaded with one out, trailing by one run. Richardson hit a line drive to right field that was caught by a diving Jeremy Bohnett. Collins, the runner at third base, scored on the play, but was called out by Caldwell for failing to tag up.

Walker got the win in relief, going three innings and allowing one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts. Junior Logan Holthaus started for Harding and pitched six innings. He allowed five runs but only one was earned as Quincy scored four unearned runs in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. Two of the runs came on a home run by Aaron Priestes.

Harding answered with four in the bottom of the third on RBI hits by Bohnett, Calhoun, Guglielmi and Gabe Fyock.

Reliever Charles Kapala (0-1) took the loss. Quincy (4-6) got an outstanding outing from left-handed reliever Matt McDaniel, who did not allow a run and struck out eight in five innings.