MONTICELLO, Ark. – Despite a resilient offensive effort and a game-tying blast from Bo Solley in the opener, Harding was unable to hold off No. 19 Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday, dropping both ends of a doubleheader 9-6 and 11-5 at Union Bank Park.

The results give the Boll Weevils (21-10, 17-4 GAC) the series victory, while the Bisons (17-14, 12-9 GAC) move into a fourth-place tie with Southeastern Oklahoma in the conference standings.

Game 1: Ark.-Monticello 9, Harding 6 (10 Innings)

Harding displayed incredible grit in the first game of the day, erasing a late deficit to force extra innings.

The Bisons jumped out to an early lead in the third when Easton Jones scorched a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Collin Helms and Logan Lacey. After UAM reclaimed a 6-4 lead in the fourth, the Harding bullpen took over. Keaton Baird was masterful in relief, tossing 4.1 innings of two-hit ball to keep the Bisons within striking distance.

In the eighth inning, the Bisons found the equalizer. After Jones singled to center, Bo Solley launched a towering two-run home run to right-center, knotting the game at 6-6. Harding had a chance to take the lead in the 10th when Dom Davis hit his school-record tying third double of the game, but the Bisons were unable to bring him home.

In the bottom of the 10th, a two-out error allowed a UAM runner to reach, setting the stage for Camden Tanner to hit a walk-off three-run home run.

Game 2: Ark.-Monticello 11, Harding 5

In the seven-inning series finale, the Bisons were forced into an uphill battle after the Boll Weevils erupted for nine runs in the first two innings.

Harding's bats attempted to spark a comeback in the second. Phoenix West led off with a triple and was driven in by a Jack Opoien single. Lacey then cut into the lead further with a two-run double, making it 9-4. Lacey continued his productive day in the fifth, launching a solo home run—his third of the season—to right-center.

While the offense tried to chip away, Josiah Binford provided much-needed stability on the mound. Binford threw 4.0 innings of one-run relief, striking out five and allowing only two hits to keep the Boll Weevils in check over the final four frames. However, the early deficit proved too large to overcome as UAM closed out the sweep.

BISONS NOTES

• Logan Lacey reached base in both games, extending his remarkable reached-base streak to 31 games.

• Dom Davis had a standout day at the plate in the opener, recording three doubles.

• Easton Jones finished the twin bill with four hits and three RBIs.

• Bo Solley recorded his first home run of the season in Game 1.

UP NEXT The Bisons play their fifth straight road game Tuesday on the road in a nonconference matchup against Ouachita Baptist. Harding returns home Thursday and Friday to host Southern Arkansas in a GAC series at Jerry Moore Field.