Harding Baseball Wins School-Record 13th Straight Game

Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Harding baseball made history on Friday, defeating Ouachita Baptist 4-0 at Rab Rogers Field in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. This victory marked the Bisons' school-record 13th consecutive win, improving their overall record to 15-1 and 7-0 in the Great American Conference. The teams conclude the three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

Harding starter Maddox Long continued his dominance on the mound, tossing eight shutout innings and allowing just four hits while striking out 13. Long, who improved to 5-0 on the season, has not allowed a run in his last two outings, spanning 14 innings. Over his last three starts, he has struck out an impressive 33 batters. Javier Lobo closed out the game in the 9th inning, securing the Bisons' second shutout of the season.

Long's outstanding performances have earned him numerous accolades, including GAC Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Week for the past two weeks. He is currently the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week.

The Harding offense was led by a trio of key hits. In the third inning, Nathan Bowie singled through the right side, scoring Ty Kirkbride and giving the Bisons an early 1-0 lead. Seth Johnson added to the lead in the fourth inning with his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, making it 2-0. Collin Helms then homered to right center in the fifth inning, his second of the season, increasing the lead to 3-0.

The Bisons added an unearned run in the seventh inning, courtesy of a throwing error by Ouachita Baptist's first baseman, allowing Logan Lacey to score and making it 4-0.

Ouachita Baptist's Chase Oberle took the loss, surrendering three earned runs on nine hits in eight innings of work. The Tigers fell to 8-7 overall and 5-2 in the GAC.

This was the 207th meeting between the two teams, with Harding now leading the all-time series 103-102-2.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Nathan Bowie: OF; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

#12 Collin Helms: C; 6' 0"; Junior; L/R

#25 Seth Johnson: IF; 6' 6"; Senior; L/R

#7 Ty Kirkbride: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#10 Logan Lacey: IF; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#22 Javier Lobo: P; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#40 Maddox Long: P; 6' 5"; Fifth Year; R/R

Players Mentioned

#23 Nathan Bowie
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#12 Collin Helms
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/R
: C

#25 Seth Johnson
: 6' 6"; Senior; L/R
: IF

#7 Ty Kirkbride
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#10 Logan Lacey
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#22 Javier Lobo
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: P

#40 Maddox Long
: 6' 5"; Fifth Year; R/R
: P