RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Harding Bisons (34-15 overall, 21-11 GAC) were swept in a baseball doubleheader at Arkansas Tech (28-19 overall, 22-9 GAC) on Friday, losing 10-4 in the first game and 9-3 in the second. The Bisons currently sit in third place in the Great American Conference standings.
In the first game, Arkansas Tech's Daniel Hutchison (7-3) earned the win, while Harding's Maddox Long (10-3) took the loss.
Arkansas Tech took an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning on a solo home run by Tyler Sardelli and a sacrifice fly by Christian Olea. Harding responded in the fourth, plating three runs, including a two-run double by Nathan Bowie.
Arkansas Tech regained the lead in the fifth, scoring two runs on RBI singles from Brendyn Bard and Kirby Jenkins. The Wonder Boys extended their lead in the sixth with a two-run single by Olea and an RBI single by Jenkins.
Harding added a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Logan Lacey, but Arkansas Tech answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the 10-4 victory.
Bowie led the Harding offense in the first game, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs, his third career four-hit game. Lacey also contributed with an RBI single.
In the second game, Arkansas Tech defeated Harding 9-3. Emiliano Mata (2-3) earned the win for Arkansas Tech, and Merritt Jay (7-4) took the loss for Harding.
Collin Helms gave Harding an early lead in the top of the first inning with a solo home run. However, Arkansas Tech responded emphatically in the bottom of the first, scoring seven runs. Helms' home run was followed by a solo homer from Tyler Sardelli, a wild pitch allowing Cole Dawson to score, a sacrifice fly by Brendyn Bard, a single by Grant Jones, and a fielder's choice by Luke Ray.
Arkansas Tech added two more runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Sawyer Duddleston and an RBI groundout by Bard.
Harding scored their second run in the fifth inning when Nathan Bowie hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Sebastian Martinez. They scored their final run in the seventh when Logan Lacey singled to shallow left field, scoring Ty Kirkbride.
The Bisons will conclude their regular season on Saturday with a single game against Arkansas Tech in Russellville, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
