SEARCY – Delta State had two big innings and Statesmen junior right-hander Cody Waddell limited Harding to only one run over six innings in a 10-1 victory over Harding on Tuesday at Jerry Moore Field.

Harding (20-18) returns to Great American Conference action Friday and Saturday in a three-game series at Northwestern Oklahoma in Alva.

Delta State (13-12) scored three in the first inning off Harding starter Reed Roberts, but Roberts settled in and held the Statesmen scoreless over the next three innings.

Delta State put its first two runners on in the fifth, and Roberts (1-1) gave way to reliever Connor McVay. The Statesmen had five hits and scored five in the inning to blow the game open. Delta State led 8-1 at that point and scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Harding's lone run came in the bottom of the first. Junior Zac Stewart hit his second triple of the season with one out and scored on Davis Richardson's single to center. Richardson was 2 for 3, his 11th multi-hit game, and notched his 21st RBI.

Waddell scattered seven hits over six innings, had no walks and struck out three. Statesmen junior Conner Burton pitched two perfect innings of relief, and senior Turner Neely closed out the game allowing only one hit in the ninth.

Harding received strong relief work from sophomore Hayden Lowe, who did not allow a run in 1 1/3 innings. Freshman Jackson Ward did not allow a hit in his two innings of work.

Junior Brandon Cummins and sophomore Jacob Swiney had two hits each for the Statesmen, who have won six of their last seven games.

Harding junior Harrison Hunter did not reach for the Bisons and had his school-record streak of reaching base in 35 straight games come to an end.