SEARCY – A three-run home run by Matt Calhoun in the sixth and a three-run eighth gave Harding baseball a crucial 7-4 victory over Ouachita Baptist on Sunday in Great American Conference action.

With the victory, Harding improved to 26-17 overall and 15-12 in conference play. The Bisons won the series two games to one. Ouachita Baptist fell to 20-23-1 overall and 12-15 in the GAC and was eliminated from conference tournament contention with the loss.

Harding will enter next weekend's series against Arkansas Tech in Russellville in sixth place in the GAC, one game ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma. Southeastern is at East Central, who is only 3-24 in conference play.

Ouachita Baptist scored three runs in the top of the sixth off Harding starter Lucas Waddell to take a 4-1 lead. The Bisons answered with Calhoun's third home run of the season. It came off Ouachita Baptist starter Josh Everett, who gave up a single to Kyle Atkins and a walk to Billy Ninemire to set up Calhoun's heroics.

With the game tied at 4-4, Harding senior right fielder Jeremy Bohnett made a diving catch with one out in the top of the eighth that robbed McCrae Jones of an extra base hit and an RBI. Will Wallace had walked and was at second when Bohnett made the catch. Wallace did not tag on the play and was doubled off second.

The Bisons mounted their eventual game-winning rally in the bottom of the eighth. With one, Trent Wooldridge and Ninemire both walked against OBU reliever Josh Reeves (2-1). After Bohnett flew out to center, Reeves walked Calhoun to load the bases for Erin McCarver, who had struck out in each of his first three at-bats.  Reeves second pitch to McCarver was in the dirt and got past catcher Chris Tavaras, and Wooldridge scored from third with what turned out to be the winning run.

With runners at second and third, McCarver added to the Bisons' lead with an infield single to shortstop that scored both runners.

Harding's Bronson Smith (2-2) pitched the top of the eighth inning for the win, and Josh Spears pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

Before the game, Harding recognized eight seniors that will be graduating - Paul Anzalone, Kyle Atkins, Jeremy Bohnett, Levi Denton, Gabe Fyock, Billy Ninemire, Hayden Shirley and Lucas Waddell

Harding plays its final home game of the season Tuesday in a non-conference contest against Southern Arkansas. The game starts at 3 p.m.