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Harding University Athletics

Brendan Perrett
11
Winner Harding HU 15-9, 11-8 GAC
10
Southern Arkansas SAU 17-8, 13-6 GAC
Winner
Harding HU
15-9, 11-8 GAC
11
Final
10
Southern Arkansas SAU
17-8, 13-6 GAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Harding HU 0 6 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 11 14 1
Southern Arkansas SAU 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 3 1 10 12 3

W: Yakel, Ryder (3-0) L: Zach Smith (3-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | by Scott Goode (4/10/21)

Harding Baseball Holds Off No. 25 Southern Arkansas in 11-10 Win

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Harding baseball team opened two big leads on 25th-ranked Southern Arkansas Saturday at Walker Stadium and got the last out with the potential winning run on in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Muleriders 11-10 in the first game of a three-game Great American Conference series.

Harding improved to 15-9 overall with the win and 11-8 in conference games. Southern Arkansas fell to 17-8 overall and 13-6 in conference. The series concludes with a doubleheader Sunday in Magnolia.

With the victory over a ranked Southern Arkansas team, Harding has at least one win over a nationally ranked team every year since 2008.

Harding scored six runs on five hits in the second inning to take an early lead. A Mulerider error and a two-run single from Luke Van Dover were the key plays in the inning.

Southern Arkansas chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the second and two more in the third.

Another Mulerider error allowed Harding to take a 7-4 lead in the fourth. Michael Chrisman reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored on Connor Kelly's two-out single to right.

Southern Arkansas pulled within one with another two-run inning in the fifth.

The Bisons broke it open again with four run in the seventh, another Southern Arkansas error playing a key role in the inning. Hits from Kelly and Cody Smith and a walk to Caleb Stull loaded the bases with one out. Van Dover reached on an error that allowed Kelly to score from third. Brendan Perrett then doubled to right to clear the bases and give Harding an 11-6 lead.

Southern Arkansas battled back against Harding reliever Ryder Yakel, scoring three on three doubles in the eighth and another on a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Yakel (3-0) remained undefeated on the season by inducing a ground out to end the game.

Harding had 14 hits, the most by the team in a GAC road game this season, but 12 of the hits were singles.

Kelly went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for his first three-hit game of the season. Smith was 3-for-5 with two runs and his eighth double. Perrett notched his second three-hit game, going 3-for-5 with a run, three RBIs and his fourth double.

Seven of Southern Arkansas's 12 hits went for extra bases, including two home runs from Tucker Burton.

Mulerider starter Zach Smith (3-2) took the loss, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 13 hits over 6.0 innings.
 
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