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Harding University Athletics

2025 BASE vs. UCM - NCAA Tournament
6
Harding HU 41-19
13
Winner Central Missouri UCM 41-11
Harding HU
41-19
6
Final
13
Central Missouri UCM
41-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Harding HU 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 6 7 1
Central Missouri UCM 1 0 2 4 0 0 0 6 X 13 13 0

W: Allen,Sawyer (6-0) L: Jay, Merritt (7-5) S: Wilson,Jake (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Harding Falls to Central Missouri in NCAA Central Region Final

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Harding's historic season came to an end with a 13-6 loss to No. 1 seed Central Missouri in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament final. Despite the loss, the Bisons finished the season with a 41-19 record and made program history by winning two games at an NCAA regional.

Junior Merritt Jay (7-5) took the mound for Harding and pitched well early, retiring the side in order in the top of the first inning. However, Central Missouri loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the frame and scored on a walk after Jay struck out two batters.

The Bisons responded in the second inning, courtesy of Kade Smith's triple off the right field wall that scored Harrison Griffith, and Ty Kirkbride's chopper up the middle that scored Smith to take a 2-1 lead.

Harding extended its lead to 3-1 in the third inning on Nathan Bowie's bloop single and Harrison Griffith's RBI ground ball. However, Central Missouri tied the game 3-3 with three consecutive hits in the bottom of the third.

The Mules took control of the game in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to take a 7-3 lead. Harding's Griffin Meeker relieved Jay in the bottom of the fourth.

The Bisons attempted to mount a comeback, cutting the lead to 7-4 in the sixth inning on Cooper Newsom's sacrifice fly and to 7-5 in the seventh inning on Coulton Doyle's 10th home run of the season.

Harding cut the lead to 7-6 in the eighth inning on Ty Kirkbride's fielder's choice, but Central Missouri scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 13-6 lead. The Bisons did not score in the ninth inning, ending their season.
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