SEARCY, Ark. – Senior third baseman Logan Lacey etched his name into the record books Saturday at Jerry Moore Field, becoming Harding's all-time hits leader in a crucial Great American Conference series victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Lacey entered the day needing two hits to break the record. After a single in the first game, Lacey laced a base hit up the middle in the first inning of the nightcap for his 227th career hit, surpassing Connor Kelly (2017-21) for the most in program history.

Behind Lacey's milestone and a gritty pitching performance in the finale, Harding (16-11, 11-7 GAC) took two of three from the Savage Storm (18-11, 11-7 GAC) to move into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.

GAME 2: Harding 4, Southeastern 3

In the seven-inning series finale, Harding jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two frames and leaned on its bullpen to survive a late-inning scare.

Cooper Newsom drove in Lacey for the game's first run in the opening frame. In the second, Jack Opoien and Phoenix West added RBI singles, while Lacey reached on an error that allowed the fourth run to cross.

Caleb Oligschlaeger (2-1) earned the win, navigating 4.2 innings while allowing just one run. After Southeastern rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 4-3, Josiah Binford entered with two runners on and no outs. Binford struck out two and enduced a foul out to earn his third save and secure the series win.

GAME 1: Southeastern 16, Harding 8

The Savage Storm used a late-inning offensive explosion to take the first game of the doubleheader. Despite Harding jumping out to an early 6-0 lead—highlighted by a two-run double from Newsom and an RBI double from Phoenix West—the Southeastern bats eventually found their rhythm.

Southeastern scored five runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth to pull away. JJ Bush provided the big blow for the Storm with a two-run home run in the seventh. Harding's Newsom finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Nathan Bowie and Collin Helms each added two hits.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Record: Logan Lacey's 227 career hit came in his 186th career game. He also moved within five runs of the school's all-time runs scored record (172).

• Streaks Extended: Easton Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 games in game one but the streak ended in game two, while Dom Davis ran his streak to 11 before it ended. Phoenix West has a 12-game hitting streak still alive.

• Series Success: Harding has now won eight of its last nine games against Southeastern Oklahoma dating back to 2024.

• GAC Race: With the series win, Harding and Southeastern are tied for fourth at 11-7, two games behind both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech (13-5) and four back of leader Arkansas-Monticello (15-3)

UP NEXT

Harding will step out of conference play for a mid-week matchup Tuesday at Missouri S&T before traveling to face GAC leader Arkansas-Monticello next weekend for another pivotal GAC three-game series.