ALVA, Okla. – Harding baseball split a pair of tight games with Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday in Great American Conference play at Myers Stadium. Harding won the opener 7-4 before falling 2-1 in game two. The teams conclude the series Saturday at noon.

A victory Saturday would give Harding (17-12, 9-8) its first road GAC series victory of the season and the second in two seasons in the GAC.

With the split, Harding remained in sixth place in the GAC standings, only percentage points ahead of Arkansas-Monticello, who is 10-9. The top six teams advance to the GAC Tournament in May.

Northwestern Oklahoma moved to 17-15 overall and 6-11 in conference play. The Rangers are provisional members of the GAC and not eligible for the conference tournament.

With the score tied 4-4 in the eighth inning of game one, Harding scored three runs on only one hit to take the lead for good. With one out, junior Jeremy Bohnett reached on an error and junior Erin McCarver walked. Junior Victor Guerra scored both runners with a double to left center, his fourth of the season. Guerra moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on sophomore Kyler Offenbacker sacrifice bunt.

Guerra also had a two-run single in the fourth and went 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBI.

McCarver, Trent Wooldridge and Billy Ninemire also had two hits each. The Bisons stole a season-high six bases in the opener, including two by senior Kyle Atkins.

Junior Cameron Walker (2-1) won his second straight start, allowing only three earned runs and striking out six in seven innings. Redshirt freshman Zac Stewart pitched a scoreless eighth, and sophomore Josh Spears allowed one unearned run in the ninth.

Northwestern Oklahoma senior Clay Thomas (4-3) suffered the loss. He pitched eight innings and allowed four earned runs.

Northwestern Oklahoma scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two. With the score tied at 1-1, Ranger senior Trevor Long and junior Jonathan Freemyer connected on consecutive doubles off Harding starter Hayden Shirley (5-3) to score the winning run.

Harding's run came in the top of the first on McCarver's infield ground out with the bases loaded.

Shirley pitched well, striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings. Freshman Alan Copeland retired the last two hitters in the sixth.

Anzalone had two of Harding's five hits in game two.

Northwestern Oklahoma senior Jason Martyn (6-2) pitched a complete game and struck out four for the win.