SEARCY – Harding had only one hit in its first 14 at-bats with runners on base Sunday, but the 15th at-bat with runners on made all the difference.
With Zac Stewart on first base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Harding trailed by a run when junior Alan Copeland lined a game-winning home run over the left field wall off Missouri Western reliever Ryan DeGregorio to give the Bisons a 2-1 victory over the Griffons on Sunday. It was Copeland's first career home run.
All three games in the series were decided by one run with Harding winning 5-4 in the opener Saturday and Missouri Western winning 2-1 in game two. Copeland scored the game-winning run in Saturday's first game.
The game was scoreless until Missouri Western (3-4) took a 1-0 lead in a very strange top of the eighth inning. With runners at first and second and no outs, Missouri Western's David Glaude attempted to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Harding reliever Josh Spears fielded the bunt, but his throw to first sailed into right field and both runners scored.
Harding coach Dr. Patrick McGaha argued that Glaude's bunt hit his bat twice, the second time after it hit home plate, and should be a foul ball. After a lengthy discussion, the umpires determined that the ball had hit the bat twice. The runs came off the scoreboard, and both runners returned to their original bases.
Two pitches later, Glaude was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Stewart came in from left field to relieve Spears and struck out the first batter he faced. Mitch Thorman, who hit the game-winning home run in Saturday's second game, then hit a slow roller to second baseman Kyler Offenbacker. The Bisons tried to turn the double play, but only got the runner at second, and Ryan Degner scored from third to give the Griffons the lead.
Harding (4-1) had a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning, and it came on the Bisons' only other hit with a runner on base. With two outs and Harrison Hunter on second base, Stewart lined a single to left. Hunter raced around third but was cut down at home plate on a perfect throw by the leftfielder Thorman.
Stewart (2-0) earned his second relief win of the season. He pitched the final two innings, did not allow a hit and struck out two.
Lost in the home run heroics was an outstanding outing by Harding junior Andrew Ralston, who made only his second career start. Ralston pitched six shutout innings and gave up only four hits while striking out five.
Left-hander Banks Born started and pitched five scoreless innings for Missouri Western. DeGregorio (0-1) took the loss.
Harding will return to action at Jerry Moore Field on Tuesday, hosting Hendrix at 2 p.m.
