SEARCY – Harding pitching stole the show in game one and the hitters took center stage in the Bisons' doubleheader sweep of Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday. The Bisons won the opener 7-0 and the second game 10-5.
Harding completed the three-game series sweep against Oklahoma Baptist and extended their winning streak to seven games over the Bison at Jerry Moore Field. Harding improved their record to 12-2 overall and 6-0 in the Great American Conference. Oklahoma Baptist dropped to 9-5 overall and 3-3 in conference.
In the first game, Harding pitchers Davis Welch and Merritt Jay combined for the Bisons' second shutout of the season. Welch pitched seven innings and gave up only four hits and two walks while striking out seven. He improved his record to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.19. Jay finished the game with four strikeouts in the last two innings.
Collin Helms led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Sebastian Martinez and Cooper Newsom each drove in two runs. Newsom hit his third home run of the season in the fifth inning.
Harding scored two runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Martinez and a wild pitch. The Bisons added two more in the seventh on another sacrifice fly by Nathan Bowie and a single by Martinez. Harding scored three more in the eighth on a single by Logan Lacey and Harding's third sacrifice fly of the game.
The Bisons put on a fireworks show in the second game. Martinez hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run blast in the first inning. Harding scored three more in the second, with two runs coming from Sawyer Price's triple and one from Drew McNeel's sacrifice fly.
Harding hit two more homers in the fourth. Michael Dewald hit a solo shot to left, and Helms hit a two-run shot to right center.
Dewald hit another home run in the sixth for his first career two-homer game. Helms drove in Harding's final run with a single. Dewald went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Harding used four pitchers in the second game, with reliever Kyle Lane (1-0) pitching a perfect seventh inning for the win.
The Bisons will play next against Arkansas Tech in a nonconference game on Tuesday in Russellville.