JACKSON, Tenn. – A three-run second inning and solid relief efforts from three pitchers were enough to lift the Harding baseball team to a 5-3 victory over 27th-ranked Union on Tuesday in non-conference action.

Harding (8-17) had five hits in the second inning, including a two-run single from freshman Connor Kelly to take an early lead. Union (20-7), a member of the Gulf South Conference, answered with three of its own in the bottom of the inning.

Harding starter Nash Thomas came out with one out in the second, replaced by Logan McCall. McCall allowed four hits and walked two but held Union scoreless for the next 3 1/3 innings.

Harding took the lead in the third on Jesse Cox's RBI single and added another run in the fourth Myles Humphreys' run-scoring single to right.

McCall left in the fifth with two outs and two on. Reliever Jackson Ward got a strikeout to end the threat and pitched through the eighth without allowing a run.

Raiff Beever came on in the ninth and retired the side for his second save.

Cox and Kelly led the nine-hit Harding attack with two hits each.

Union starter Tommy Weiler (0-1) got the loss, allowing five earned runs in four innings. Reliever Landon Walker did not allow a run over the last five innings.