SEARCY – The combination of one of the top pitchers in the Great American Conference and some spotty defense proved too much for Harding to overcome Sunday at Jerry Moore Field.

Southwestern Oklahoma State senior Shane Martin pitched his fourth complete game of the season, and Harding committed five errors as the Bisons fell 5-1 to the Bulldogs. The victory gave Southwestern a 2-1 series victory over Harding.

Harding (19-15, 11-10) will remain in sixth place in the GAC standings despite the loss. The top six teams in the conference advance to the GAC Tournament in Enid, Okla., in May.

Southwestern Oklahoma's Brandon Ruiz reached on an error in the first and came around to score off Harding starter Lucas Waddell (3-3). After Harding tied it at 1-1 on an RBI single by junior Jeremy Bohnett that scored senior Kyle Atkins, Southwestern took the lead for good in the fourth. Cooper Chambers reached on Harding's second error and came around to score the Bulldogs' second unearned run.

After scoring in the first, the Bisons did not have a runner reach third base and only two reach second the rest of the game against Martin (8-1). The senior right-hander allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five. Martin threw 114 pitches, 78 for strikes.

The Bulldogs (22-12, 14-7) tacked on three more runs in the eighth, again benefitting from two Bison errors in the inning. Chris Faulkner and Tyler Rapp had back-to-back doubles with one out to start the scoring. A single to left by Bryce Stout scored Rapp and knocked out Waddell, who went 7 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and two earned runs.

Atkins was 2-for-4 for Harding, recording his 10th multi-hit game of the season.

Harding plays again Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader against NAIA Central Baptist. The games begin at Jerry Moore Field at 2 p.m. and will be covered by the Harding Sports Network.