ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — For the second time in 24 hours, Harding found itself in an 8-6 battle with Fort Hays State. And for the second time, the Bisons walked away with the win.
Behind senior shortstop Cooper Newsom and a gritty relief effort by Austin Kelley, Harding defeated Fort Hays State 8-6 on Sunday morning at Clyde Berry Field. The victory allowed the Bisons to conclude the Henderson State Invitational with a 3-1 record.
The Bisons (3-1) leaned on Newsom, who finished 2-for-5 with a double and a solo home run in the fourth inning, scoring three of Harding's eight runs. The long ball was his second of the opening weekend.
While Harding's offense was efficient, totaling eight hits and drawing 10 walks, the game was defined by missed opportunities on both sides. The teams combined to leave 26 runners on base—13 apiece—and both squads went 0-for-12 with runners on third and less than two outs.
Fort Hays State (2-5) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Antonio Avila homered to deep left field. However, Harding responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame, scoring three runs on RBI efforts from Collin Helms, Phoenix West, and Brayden Mineo to take a 3-2 lead.
After the Tigers regained a 4-3 lead in the third, Harding erupted for a four-run rally in the bottom of the inning. The Bisons used a combination of timely hitting from West and Jack Opoien and elite plate discipline, as both Nathan Bowie and Logan Lacey drew bases-loaded walks to push the lead to 7-4.
On the mound, senior Keaton Baird provided a steady start, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing three earned runs. Freshman Austin Kelley (1-0) earned his first collegiate win in relief, striking out four over 3.1 innings of work. Josiah Binford entered in the ninth to navigate a hit-by-pitch and a walk, eventually shutting the door to earn his second save of the weekend.
West led the Harding hit parade, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Lacey added two hits and an RBI.
Leadoff hitter Nathan Bowie drew two walks and scored a run, extending his remarkable on-base streak to 34 consecutive games.
The Bisons now return to Searcy to prepare for their home opener at Jerry Moore Field. Harding hosts Northwestern Oklahoma to open Great American Conference play over the weekend.
