Payne, Hunter Lead Harding Baseball to Doubleheader Split with Southern Arkansas

Hunter Payne struck out nine in earning the win in game two.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SEARCY – Harding used a four-run fifth inning in game two of a doubleheader to earn a split with Southern Arkansas on Sunday in Great American Conference action at Jerry Moore Field. Southern Arkansas won the opener 8-2 before Harding took game two 5-3.

The teams conclude the series Monday at 1 p.m.

Harding's record moved to 14-19 overall and 7-13 in GAC. Southern Arkansas is 21-12 and 12-8 in conference. With the win in game two, Harding moved to within a half game of Arkansas Tech for the eighth and final GAC Tournament spot.

KEY INNINGS – GAME 1 (Southern Arkansas 8, Harding 2)

The key inning for Southern Arkansas was the first. The Muleriders scored three unearned runs on four hits, following an error to lead off the game.
Southern Arkansas scored at least one run in each of the first six innings, except in the fourth.
Harding's runs came in the eighth inning. Zac Stewart drove in a run with a single, and Harrison Hunter drove in a run with a ground out. Two of Harding's five hits came in the inning.

KEY STATS

Harding did not have a hit until the sixth inning, a one-out single to left center by John Chapman.
Kenneth Tabor (7-1) earned the win for Southern Arkansas, allowing two earned runs on four hits.
Andrew Fiddler (2-6) suffered the loss. He gave up seven runs (three earned) on 12 hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Fiddler has 46 strikeouts and only five walks this season.
Harding reliever Jackson Ward pitched four strong innings of relief, allowing only three hits and one earned run with one strikeout.
Billy Germaine, Austin Bishoff and Josey Langston each had three hits for Southern Arkansas.

KEY INNINGS – GAME 2 (Harding 5, Southern Arkansas 3)

Harding trailed 2-0 entering the fifth inning of game two, but with one out, six straight Bisons singled to score four runs. RBIs came from Grant Guest, Blake Coward, Davis Richardson and Noah Chandler.
Southern Arkansas answered with a leadoff home run from Jake Tisevich in the top of the sixth to cut Harding's lead to 4-3, but Harding scored an unearned run in the sixth to pull ahead by two runs.
Southern Arkansas had the tying run on base in the top of the seventh, but Harding junior reliever Reed Roberts worked out of the jam for the save.

KEY STATS

Harding starter Hunter Payne (6-4) struck out nine in five innings and allowed only six hits and three earned runs.
Harrison Hunter went 4-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases to lead the Bison offense. It was his second career four-hit game, the other coming against Southern Arkansas in last season's GAC Tournament. It was the first time in his career he stole two bases in the same game.
Southern Arkansas starter Hunter Mayo (6-3) received the loss, giving up four earned runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Blake Coward had hits in both games and extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest by a Bison this season. He has also reached base in 16 straight games.
Zac Stewart reached in both games and has been on base in 18 straight.

by Sterling McMichael
Posted by Harding Sports on Sunday, April 3, 2016

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Players Mentioned

#17 Noah Chandler: IF; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#2 John Chapman: IF; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#12 Andrew Fiddler: P; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#13 Grant Guest: IF; 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R

#3 Harrison Hunter: OF; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior; L/R

#30 Hunter Payne: P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#20 Davis Richardson: C; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; S/R

#22 Reed Roberts: P; 6' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#23 Zac Stewart: OF/P; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#8 Jackson Ward: P; 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/L

#4 Blake Coward: IF; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#17 Noah Chandler
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: IF

#2 John Chapman
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: IF

#12 Andrew Fiddler
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: P

#13 Grant Guest
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#3 Harrison Hunter
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior; L/R
: OF

#30 Hunter Payne
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: P

#20 Davis Richardson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; S/R
: C

#22 Reed Roberts
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#23 Zac Stewart
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: OF/P

#8 Jackson Ward
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/L
: P

#4 Blake Coward
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: IF