SEARCY – A pair of complete game shutouts led to a split of Saturday's Great American Conference doubleheader pitting Harding and Oklahoma Baptist. Oklahoma Baptist's Mychal Yarbor allowed only three hits in a 3-0 shutout in game one, and Harding's Jackson Ward gave up five hits and struck out eight in a 6-0 win in game two. Harding won the opener 5-4 on Friday and took the series two games to one.

Harding moved to 9-16 overall and 4-11 in the GAC, while Oklahoma Baptist is now 16-9 overall and 9-6 in the GAC. Harding's pitching staff limited Oklahoma Baptist, who entered the series averaging almost nine runs per game, to only seven runs in the series.

Oklahoma Baptist's Zane Gelphman hit a two-run home run in the first inning of game one, and Brett Berghammer drove in a run in the second to provide all the scoring.

Harding starter Tanner Smith (2-4) pitched well but took the loss. He gave up eight hits and three earned runs in seven innings with no walks and eight strikeouts. Connor McVay pitched two scoreless innings of relief and struck out three.

Yarber (3-2) also struck out eight and had only one walk.

Ward's shutout was his first complete game in 23 career starts, and his eight strikeouts were also a career high. He held Oklahoma Baptist to 0-for-8 with runners on base and improved to 3-1 on the season.

Harding plated three runs in the first inning, two coming on a Luke Van Dover triple. Connor Kelly doubled to drive in the third run.

Harding pushed its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a Chris Taylor RBI single.

Oklahoma Baptist starter Zach Fowler (3-3) left after the fifth inning having allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

The Bisons' final runs came in the sixth on a safety squeeze from Ben Brauss that scored Butterfield and on a Van Dover walk with the bases loaded.

Harding's next action is a nonconference game Tuesday at home against Hendrix. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.