SEARCY, Ark. – Harding University utilized dominant pitching and timely hitting to sweep a season-opening Great American Conference doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday at Jerry Moore Field, taking the first game 4-3 in walk-off fashion before securing a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.
Game 1: Harding 4, NWOSU 3
Easton Jones provided the heroics in the opener, lining a walk-off RBI single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Jack Opoien and secure a 4-3 victory.
While the walk-off provided the finish, the story of the middle innings was the efficiency of Harding starter Kyle Lane. After allowing a lead-off walk and an unearned run in the first, Lane became nearly untouchable, retiring 18 consecutive Ranger hitters at one point. Lane struck out eight and allowed just three hits in 6.2 innings of work.
The Bisons (5-1, 2-0 GAC) trailed 3-1 entering the late stages before slowly chipping away at the Rangers' lead. Phoenix West ignited the comeback with a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning, his second of the season. Harding leveled the score in the sixth when Cooper Newsom drove in Collin Helms with a sacrifice fly.
Reliever Merritt Jay (1-1) earned the win with a spectacular performance out of the bullpen. Jay struck out five of the seven batters he faced over 2.1 perfect innings. His appearance moved him closer to program history, as he now sits 24 strikeouts away from entering Harding's career top 10.
The Rangers (5-6, 0-1 GAC) were hampered by five defensive errors, which led to three unearned runs for the Bisons. Elias Herrera (1-2) took the loss for NWOSU.
Game 2: Harding 2, NWOSU 1
In the seven-inning nightcap, freshman Ryan Romolo (2-0) continued his impressive start to his collegiate career. Romolo fanned nine batters over 5.0 innings, allowing just one run on five hits.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Harding's offense capitalized on defensive miscues for the second time in the day. After Cooper Newsom and Phoenix West reached base, Easton Jones tied the game with an RBI single to right field. One batter later, Johnathan Jackson drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Jack Opoien.
Austin Kelley earned his first save of the season, navigating the final two innings while allowing only one hit.
The Rangers (5-7, 0-2 GAC) threatened early in Game 2 when Alex Dabrowski led off the game with a triple, but Romolo struck out the side to escape the jam. Blake Mattern scored the lone run for NWOSU in the third after a triple and an RBI single by Chase Gordon.
Logan Sandoval (1-1) took the loss for the Rangers, allowing two runs (one earned) in 5.0 innings of work.
Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma State will conclude the three-game series Saturday at Jerry Moore Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. due to rain in the forecast.
