Box Score DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State scored five early runs and held on for a 5-3 victory over Harding, giving the Savage Storm a two-games-to-one victory over the Bisons in the series.

SOSU scored two in the second on Brad Shankle's second home run of the series, a two-run shot off Harding starter Logan Holthaus. It was only the second home run allowed by Holthaus this season.

The Savage Storm made it 5-0 with three runs in the third, two coming on a double by designated hitter Dalton Nelson.

Harding scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Anthony Guglielmi had an RBI double in the fourth; Gabe Fyock drove in a run with a single in the fifth; and Paul Anzalone scored on a wild pitch in the seventh.

The Bisons had their chances to close even further. After Anzalone's run, Harding stranded the bases loaded in the seventh, and left the potential tying run on base in both the eighth and ninth innings. The Bisons left 10 runners on in the game.

Holthaus (2-4) left after allowing five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Modglin pitched two scoreless innings in relief, and Cameron Walker got the final five outs.

SOSU starter James Taylor (4-1) earned the win, going six innings and allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Cameron Mann pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to earn his GAC-leading 11th save.

The Bisons outhit the Savage Storm 9-8, with Billy Ninemire, Jeremy Bohnett, and Guglielmi recording two hits each.

Harding dropped to 24-21 overall and 7-14 in GAC play. The Bisons are still alive for the sixth seed in the GAC Tournament, but must win all three games in next weekend's final conference series against Southwestern Oklahoma State and have Ouachita Baptist lose all three games next week at Henderson State. The Bisons also need East Central to lose at least three of their final four conference games.

SOSU improved to 31-13 overall and maintained its lead in the GAC standings at 15-6.

Harding plays at Arkansas Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a non-conference matchup before closing the regular season next weekend at home against Southwestern Oklahoma.