ARKADELPHIA – 24th-ranked Harding started this weekend's Great American Conference series against Ouachita with a 4-0 win over the Tigers on Friday at Rab Rodgers Field.
With both team's No. 1 pitchers going against each other, Friday's game started with zeros in the first two innings.
The Bisons struck first with a single run in the third inning, and then added solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead.
Ouachita's best scoring opportunity of the game came with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the third, but Harding pitcher Maddox Long responded with three of his 13 total strikeouts in the game to leave the runners on.
The Bisons took advantage of a Tiger error to score the final run of the game in the top of the seventh.
Ouachita starter
Chase Oberle turned in an impressive performance despite taking the loss. In the first seven innings, he allowed just three earned runs with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Weston Bailey kept the Bisons scores on just one hit with two strikeouts in the final two innings.
The Tigers were limited to four hits in the game.
Jaxson Jester went 2-for-3.
Isaac Nowell and
Austin Gathright each had one hit.
Games two and three of the series will be played as a double header on Saturday starting at noon at Rab Rodgers Field.
