Box Score SEARCY – Arkansas Tech, the top offensive team in the Great American Conference, had 11 hits in a 7-4 victory over Harding on Friday at Jerry Moore Field.

The win moved Arkansas Tech to 19-21 overall and 8-8 in the GAC. Harding fell to 22-17 overall and 6-10 in conference play. The Bisons entered the series eighth of nine teams in the conference standings. Only the top six advance to the GAC Tournament in May.

The game was a matchup of two of the top pitchers in the conference. Arkansas Tech's Aaron Luchterhand entered with a 2.19 ERA, the second best in the conference, and Harding's Lucas Waddell was sixth with a 2.47 ERA. Both pitchers lasted 8 1/3 innings.

After Harding scored in the first on an RBI single by Matt Calhoun, Tech answered with three in the second. Two runs came in on Madison Beaird's two-run triple.

Harding battled back with two in the fifth to tie it at 3-3. Billy Ninemire drove in Chase Presley with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.

Tech took the lead for good in the seventh. Cesar Abreu hit a ground ball through the right side that skirted between Calhoun, the first baseman, and Presley, the second baseman. As the ball rolled into right, it got past Harding rightfielder Paul Anzalone, and Abreu went all the way to third. He scored on the next pitch, as Beaird hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Tech scored three more in the top of the ninth.

Waddell (5-3) came out with one out in the ninth. He gave up 10 hits and six runs (five earned) with a walk and two strikeouts.

Harding scored one in the ninth before Luchterhand (4-5) gave way to closer Jonathan Finnegan. Luchterhand gave up ninth hits and four earned runs. He walked four, struck out nine and threw 130 pitches, 85 for strikes.

Finnegan got the last two outs for his fifth save.

Harding shortstop Gabe Fyock had four singles for the Bisons. He joined Calhoun as the only two Bisons this season with four hits in a game. Calhoun has done it twice.

The two teams meet again Saturday for a noon doubleheader.