SEARCY – Harding pitchers held Augustana without a run for 17 straight innings Saturday as the Bisons swept the Vikings 22-0 and 1-0 in a doubleheader at Jerry Moore Field.

The January 31 start date was the earliest ever for the Harding baseball program, but the Bisons are now 2-0 all-time in the first month of the year.

Augustana (0-2) is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Vikings just returned to the United States after playing a series of games in Nicaragua.

Harding pounded out 20 hits, including eight doubles, in the opener. The 22 runs were the most the Bisons have ever scored in a home game and the eight doubles were also the most ever at Jerry Moore Field.

Leading 4-0 after five innings, Harding sent 11 batters to the plate in a seven-run sixth inning and sent 14 batters to the plate in a 10-run seventh inning.

Eight of Harding's nine starters had at least one hit, and junior shortstop John Chapman went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs. Junior catcher Davis Richardson doubled twice and went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs.

Junior Collin Campbell (1-0) gave up only two hits and struck out three in 5 2-3 innings to earn the win. ,Hunter Payne pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings, and Jackson Ward and Josh Spears finished off the Vikings with an inning each.

Augustana used seven pitchers in game one with starter Michael Letkewicz taking the loss. He allowed two earned runs in four innings. The Vikings also made five errors.

Junior Andrew Fiddler continued the outstanding pitching for Harding in game two. He allowed only three hits and struck out five in six innings but left with the score tied 0-0.

The scheduled seven-inning game went to the bottom of the eighth still scoreless. With one out Harrison Hunter was hit by a pitch from Augustana reliever Collin Lovell. He went to second on Zac Stewart's infield bunt single, and Lincoln Voss replaced Lovell on the mound for the Vikings. Lovell walked Noah Chandler to load the bases, but pinch hitter Zach Beasley popped out for the second out of the inning.

With a 2-1 count to Harding's Alan Copeland, Lovell's breaking ball got away from catcher Jack Goihl and Harrison raced home with the winning run on the wild pitch.

Junior Jacob Stripling (1-0) earned the win with two innings of relief, allowing only one hit. Lovell (0-1) took the loss.

The Bisons and Vikings are scheduled to play the final game of the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.