SEARCY, Ark. – SWOSU Baseball got even with Harding after defeating the Bisons 8-2 on Saturday in the second game of the day. The win was a solid response following a slow start to the series in game one where the Dawgs suffered a 16-5 run-rule loss.
The two teams will play a rubber match tomorrow at 1:00 pm to decide the series.
GAME ONE – Harding 16, SWOSU 5 (7 inn.)
Brooks Red gave SWOSU a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he homered to left field for his second long ball of the season. That lead would not hold though after Harding scored two runs in their half of the first and then regained the lead in the third inning with two more.
The Bisons went on to score 14 of the game's final 16 runs including a seven run fourth inning and four more in the fifth.
Harding scored those 16 runs on just 10 hits, in large part to the additional walks issued by SWOSU pitchers. Chris Goldston (L, 1-2) got the start and pitched 3.0 innings before the bullpen relieved him. He struck out four but walked four and hit another two batters.
Philip Sanders, Jay Greco, and Patrick Babcock made appearances out of the pen. All arms that threw walked at least one Harding hitter.
Both Red and Caleb Clines finished 2-3 at the plate. Clines drove in SWOSU's other two runs in the fifth inning with an RBI single, immediately after an Alex Rice double.
GAME TWO – SWOSU 8, Harding 2
Trailing 2-0 in the fifth, Griffin Larsen turned things around with a three-run home run with two outs that jumped the Dawgs ahead of the Bisons. It was a timely answer after Harding had just gained a 2-0 lead a half inning prior.
In the sixth inning, the offense came alive in a big way. Six runs and five hits later, SWOSU led 8-2. The explosive sixth inning saw Larsen again produce for the lineup with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
Reece Burke, Markus Coronado, and Caleb Clines all also drove in runs with singles in the inning.
Meanwhile, Jackson Phillips (W, 4-1) gave SWOSU a complete game on the bump to earn the win. He struck out seven and walked two in his outing.
Alex Rice (2-4), Burke (3-4; RBI, 2 R), and Coronado (2-4; RBI, R) all had multi-hit games to pair with Larsen's big 2-3 day.
