SEARCY – The Harding baseball team split a doubleheader with Ouachita Baptist in Great American Conference play Saturday at Jerry Moore Field. The Bisons lost game one to the Tigers 4-1, but responded with a 4-1 victory in game two.

The split leaves Harding at 25-17 overall and 14-12 in GAC play. The Bisons are still in the hunt for one of the top six places in the conference standings and a berth in the GAC Tournament. Ouachita Baptist is 20-22-1 overall and 12-14 in conference. The Tigers' hopes of a tournament spot took a hit, and Ouachita Baptist remained two games back of Harding.

Harding senior Hayden Shirley (7-4) battled wildness in game two, walking six, but allowing only one hit in collecting the win. He gave up a two-out single to Parker Norris in the second and gave up a bases loaded walk to Duncan Collins to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Harding scored all of its runs in the fourth off Ouachita Baptist starter Luis De Jesus (2-3). Victor Guerra tied the game with a two-out double that scored Jeremy Bohnett from second. Chris Hardey followed that with a single to scored Guerra to give the Bisons the lead. Kyle Atkins tacked on two more with a two-run single to center that knocked De Jesus out of the game. He allowed five hits and four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Josh Spears relieved Shirley with two runners on and one out in the sixth. Spears retired the first two hitters he faced and worked around an error in the seventh to earn his fourth save.

Hardey was 2-for-3 in game two and was the only Harding player with multiple hits.

Harding had plenty of opportunities to come from behind in game one. The Bisons trailed 2-0 entering the fifth before Erin McCarver scored on Guerra's double to right center. With one out, Harding could not score the tying run. Gabe Fyock lined out to third, and Atkins hit a line drive off the glove of OBU starter David Ward (9-2). Ward recovered and threw out Atkins for the third out.

Harding left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded nine in the game.

Ward pitched his ninth complete game of the season and allowed eight hits and only one earned run. He walked two and struck out four.

Harding starter Cameron Walker (3-3) pitched well but took the loss. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings. He walked five and struck out four.

Game three of the series is Sunday at Jerry Moore Field, beginning at 1 p.m.