NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Harding baseball team defeated Arkansas Tech 5-1 Thursday to advance to the winners bracket of the Great American Conference Tournament at Dickey-Stephens Park.
In the first inning, Maddox Long broke the Harding career strikeout record which breaks Phill Gisel record of 257 he set between 1998 and 2001. Long ended the game with three strikeouts to move to 260 in his career.
The Bisons advance to take on Arkansas-Monticello Friday at 11 a.m., at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Harding, No. 3 seed, improves to 36-15 overall and Arkansas Tech, No. 2 seed, falls to 35-17 on the season.
Maddox Long, the GAC Pitcher of the Year, got the win for Harding to improve to 6-1 on the season. Long went 7 1/3 innings didn't give up an earned run and struck out three. Javier Lobo came out the pen and got the save, his second of the season. Lobo went 1 2/3 innings didn't allow a run.
Nathan Bowie led Harding at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI's.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harding junior catcher, Sebastian Martinez, got the scoring started for Harding in the second with a solo home run to right field. It was his eighth home run of the season.
Arkansas Tech got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a fielding error by Harding.
Harding added another run in the top of the fifth when Nathan Bowie hit a single up the middle that scored Ty Kirkbride.
The Bisons made it 3-1 in the top of the seventh when Bowie hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Michael Dewald.
Harding added an insurance run in the top of the seven when Cooper Newsom hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Michael Dewald.
The Bisons took a 5-1 lead in the top of the seventh when Logan Lacy hit sacrifice fly to center that scored Drew McNeel.
GAME NOTES
- Arkansas Tech outhit Harding 9-7 in the game.
- The Bisons had three stolen bases in the game and were led by Logan Lacey who had two.
- Harding's seven hits came by six different hitters.
- John Gray received the loss for Arkansas Tech and falls to 6-3 on the season.
- Three different Wonder Boys went 2-for-4 at the plate.
