RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Great American Conference foes Harding and Arkansas Tech split a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday as both teams are making up games recently lost to weather.
With the split, Harding moved to 9-11 overall, while Arkansas Tech is 11-10. The Bisons return to GAC play Friday and Saturday for a three-game road series at Southeastern Oklahoma.
Senior Shane Kinnear hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning, to give Harding a 4-3 victory in game one.
Harding starter Andrew Ralston (1-0) gave up three hits and three runs in the first inning but did not allow another run in his third start of the season and earned his first collegiate win.
The Bisons took advantage of two Wonder Boy errors in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. After Tech's three-run bottom of the first, Harding cut the lead to 3-2 on Evan Wilson's RBI single that scored Alan Copeland, who doubled to lead off the inning.
Zach Beasley led off the sixth by reaching on an error and scored when Kinnear hit the first pitch from Arkansas Tech starter Zach Skelton (0-3) over the left field fence.
Sophomore Jacob Stripling retired all three Tech hitters he faced in the sixth on ground outs, and Zac Stewart worked around two walks in the seventh to collect his second save.
Things did not go as well for the Bisons in game two. Harding went hitless in 18 at-bats with runners on base in the 9-5 loss.
Tech parlayed five hits into five runs in the second inning off Harding starter Jackson Ward (0-1) and led the rest of the way.
Harding used seven pitchers in the second game. They combined to allow 11 hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
The Bisons trailed 9-1 entering the seventh inning. Harding rallied to score four runs without a hit. The rally included three walks and two hit batters, and three runs scored on a Jesse Cox's bases loaded ground ball that eluded Arkansas Tech third baseman Mark Vaughn for his second error of the game.
Harding's two hits came from Stewart and Cox.
Arkansas Tech designated hitter Kris Ayers went 3-for-4 with a run, a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Josh Ryan (1-0) pitched four innings and got the win for the Wonder Boys.
