RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Harding sophomore Jacob Stripling turned in his fourth straight solid start, and sophomore Andrew Fiddler pitched his sixth straight scoreless relief effort but the Bisons managed only five hits and lost 3-2 to Arkansas Tech on Tuesday in non-conference action.

Stripling (1-2) pitched five innings and allowed eight hits and three runs (two earned). He did not walk any and struck out two but suffered the loss. He has a 2.12 ERA in his four midweek starts for the Bisons, has limited opponents to a .224 average, and has walked only one hitter in his 17.0 innings of work.

Fiddler took over for Stripling in the sixth and allowed only one hit over the final three innings. In his last six outings, Fiddler has not allowed a run in 10 1/3 innings. He has struck out 15 batters and walked only two during the streak.

Tech, ranked No. 21 in NCAA II by Collegiate Baseball News, improved to 21-8 with the victory. The Wonder Boys scored single runs in the first, second and sixth innings.

Harding had only two hits through the first five innings off Arkansas Tech starter Zack Skelton (5-3) but scored twice in the sixth. Matt Calhoun led off the inning with a single, and pinch-hitter David McKenzie walked. Both runners moved up a base on Alan Copeland's sacrifice. Davis Richardson drove in Calhoun with a single to center, and Ross Adams grounded out to score McKenzie.

Harding (16-13) left the tying and winning runs on base in the top of the ninth off Arkansas Tech closer Randy Vallejo, who earned his sixth save.

Skelton lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up four hits and two earned runs in collecting the win.

Harding returns to Great American Conference play this weekend when it hosts Northwestern Oklahoma State.