SEARCY – Harding and Ouachita Baptist split a pair of non-conference baseball games Tuesday at Jerry Moore Field. The Bisons won the opener 5-0, and the Tigers won game two 6-5.

Harding is now 6-3 overall and plays its first Great American Conference series Friday and Saturday against Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla.

Ouachita Baptist is 8-4 and plays at Southeastern Oklahoma this weekend.

In the opener, Harding scored five runs in the first three innings on only one hit. The Bisons took advantage of three walks and were hit by a pitch five times.

Erin McCarver drove in a run in the first with a sacrifice fly. In the second, Trent Wooldridge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 2-0. Zac Stewart drove in another run on a ground ball, and then stole home for Harding's third run of the inning.

In the third, Chapman's single to center scored Victor Guerra for the final run of the game.

Harding starter Andrew Fiddler (1-1) had his second strong outing. He allowed only two hits and no runs in six innings and struck out eight for the second straight game. Bronson Smith closed out the game with one scoreless inning of relief.

Ouachita Baptist starter Austin Watson (0-2) did not allow a hit in two innings, but walked two and hit four and gave up four runs (two earned) and was saddled with the loss.

Harding's two hits in game one were singles by Chapman and James Anderson.

Harding scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning in game two with Calhoun singling in a run, McCarver scoring one on a suicide squeeze, and Noah Chandler doubling in the third run.

Ouachita Baptist did all its damage in the second, scoring all six runs on three hits. The big blow of the inning was a two-run double by Tiger designated hitter Chris Tavares.

Harding scored one in the bottom of the second when Calhoun was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Calhoun drove in his third run of the game with a double to right field to make it 6-5, but Harding never could push across the tying run.

Sophomore starter Andrew Ralston (0-1) allowed four runs and took the loss in his first collegiate start. Tiger reliever Josh Reeves (2-0) pitched three innings and earned the win.

Calhoun was 2-for-3 with three RBI, and David McKenzie was 2-for-2 and scored twice.