HU Bisons Baseball Strands Nine, Falls to Arkansas Tech 2-1

Courtesy Harding University Athletics Department

SEARCY – The 28th-ranked Harding baseball team stranded nine runners on base and fell 2-1 to Arkansas Tech on Tuesday in non-conference action at Jerry Moore Field.

Harding (13-5) lost for only the second time in 14 home games this season. Arkansas Tech (19-7) improved to 8-0 on the road.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the seventh, Harding reliever Zac Stewart retired the first hitter he faced and thought he had retired the second as well.

Left-handed hitting Scott Sammons appeared to be out on a check-swing third strike on a pitch in the dirt. Harding catcher Chris Hardey completed the play by making the throw to first. Neither umpire signaled safe or out. After several seconds of confusion, the umpiring crew ruled that Sammons had not swung. Two pitches later, Sammons doubled to left field and scored the eventual game-winning run on a single by pinch hitter Kenny Spencer.

Harding tied the game at 1-1 on a two-out double by Paul Anzalone that scored Victor Guerra from first base.

Arkansas Tech scored in the first on a solo home run by Cole Fergus, his second of the season.

Harding received a solid effort from starting pitcher Collin Campbell. The freshman went five innings and allowed only five hits and one earned run with no walks and five strikeouts. Stewart (1-2) suffered the loss.

Left-hander Colt Burns (3-0) got the win with 4 2/3 innings of hitless relief. He walked one and struck out six.

Harding had only five hits in the game and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

The Bisons best opportunity for a big inning came in the fifth when the Wonder Boys committed three errors. Harding had runners at second and third with no outs but did not score.

Harding is back in action Friday and Saturday against 26th-ranked Southern Arkansas. The Bisons and Muleriders open the series Friday at 6 p.m. and conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m.

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