WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Harding baseball team responded to a Friday walk-off loss by sweeping a doubleheader from Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday, winning both contests by scores of 7-2 and 7-3 at the Athletic Complex.

The Bisons (8-3, 5-1 GAC) utilized dominant starting pitching from Merritt Jay and Ryan Romolo to reclaim momentum and clinch their second consecutive Great American Conference series victory.

GAME ONE: Harding 7, SWOSU 2

Merritt Jay (2-1) set the tone in the opener, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while scattering five hits. Jay's efficiency allowed the Bison offense to build a lead through the middle innings.

Harding broke a scoreless tie in the second when Collin Helms reached on an error and later scored on an RBI grounder by Jack Opoien. The lead expanded in the sixth when the Bisons exploded for three runs on five hits, highlighted by RBI singles from Helms, Easton Jones, and Dom Davis.

Cooper Newsom added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI double that scored Logan Lacey, and Helms added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to cap the scoring. Keaton Baird and Josiah Binford combined to cover the final three innings to seal the win.

GAME TWO: Harding 7, SWOSU 3

In the seven-inning series finale, Ryan Romolo (3-0) remained perfect on the season, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing just two earned runs.

The Bisons jumped out to an immediate 2-0 lead in the first. Nathan Bowie doubled to start the game and scored on a Cooper Newsom groundout, followed by a Logan Lacey run on a SWOSU balk. Harding added two more unearned runs in the second to stretch the lead to 4-0.

After the Bulldogs cut the lead to 5-2, the Bisons put the game away in the seventh. Newsom singled and scored on a towering double by Helms. Easton Jones then drove in Helms with a fielder's choice to provide the final 7-3 margin. CJ Ricaurte recorded the final out to earn his first save of the season.

STATS LEADERS

• Collin Helms: Combined 4-for-7, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 SB. Helms was the offensive catalyst in both games.

• Nathan Bowie: 2-for-6, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 HBP. Bowie extended his on-base streak to 41 games.

• Easton Jones: 3-for-9, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SB.

• Ryan Romolo: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K (W, 3-0).

• Merritt Jay: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 K (W, 2-1).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Milestone Watch: Logan Lacey recorded his 209th career hit on Saturday. He now sits just one hit shy of tying Adam Darby and David Butterfield (210) for 7th place on Harding's all-time list.

• Newsom Doubles: Cooper Newsom added two more doubles on the day, bringing his career total to 55. He is now only two doubles away from tying Luke Van Dover's school record of 57.

• Base Path Thieves: The Bisons continued their aggressive style, successful on 7-of-7 stolen base attempts during the doubleheader. They finished the series a perfect 17-for-17 on the bases.

• Bowie's Streak: At 41 games, Nathan Bowie's on-base streak is now the second-longest in Harding baseball history.

UP NEXT

Harding's next game is Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Arkansas Tech in Russellville. The non-conference game starts at 6 p.m.