ADA, Okla. -- Maddox Long, a sophomore transfer from UA Rich Mountain, earned his second straight win by striking out nine in Harding's 6-1 victory over East Central Sunday in Great American Conference baseball action. With the victory, Harding swept the series. The Bisons won 19-7 and 6-5 in Saturday's doubleheader.

Harding improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the GAC. The Bisons have won their last 10 games over the Tigers, sweeping each of the last three series between the teams. East Central fell to 1-9 overall and 0-3 in conference.

Long allowed only three hits and one earned run over seven innings. His nine strikeouts were the most by a Harding starter since Ty Hoecker struck out 10 against Southern Nazarene on March 26, 2021.

Junior Clay Burnett pitched two scoreless, hitless innings of relief to earn his first collegiate save.

Offensively, junior Coulton Doyle had the first four-hit game of the season by a Bison and the first of his career. All four of his hits were singles. Fifth-year senior Owen Martin went 2-for-4 with his second career home run, a walk and three RBIs. Senior Cody Smith  went 2-for-5 with his second double and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

David Butterfield scored Harding's first run in the third inning. He walked and came around to score on a wild pickoff attempt. 

The Bisons made it 2-0 in the fourth. Zak Whitis singled to lead off the inning and scored on a double play.

After East Central scored in the bottom of the fourth, Harding tacked on another run on Martin's lead off homer in the sixth to give the Bisons a 3-1 lead.

Harding scored three more in the ninth. Martin singled in two runs and Smith drove in the third with a sacrifice fly.

GAME NOTES
» The Bisons out-hit the Tigers at an 11-3 clip.
» Harding pitchers limited East Central to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Harding pitchers faced 31 East Central hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Bisons drew a season-high nine walks from East Central pitching.
» East Central was led offensively by Mehki Edwards, who went 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI.
» Colt Bartling (0-3) took the loss for East Central. He started and allowed two earned runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings.