While thousands of people are flocking to Searcy to see Spring Sing, the Bison baseball team will be playing a Great American Conference doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, March 29 and a single game on Sunday, March 30 in Alva, Okla. This will be the first time the Bisons have faced Northwestern Oklahoma since the team is new to the GAC conference.
“It doesn’t matter if they are new to the conference or not, we just come out and do what we do, play our game, and see where we are after the ninth,” junior catcher Chris Hardey said.
This past Tuesday, Harding hosted Union University in a doubleheader at Jerry Moore Field. The Bisons lost the first game 15-5, but came back and won the second game 3-1. This win was the 1,000th win in Bison baseball history.
“It means a lot for our team to have our 1,000th win,” sophomore second baseman Kyle Offenbacker said. “We have a special group of guys on the team, and this marks our 1-0 start to the second half of the season.”
With the score tied at 1-1, juniorErin McCarverled off the fourth inning of game two with a single and moved to second on seniorPaul Anzalone’s sacrifice bunt. Offenbackertripled to right to score McCarver, and Offenbacker came home on seniorGabe Fyock’s sacrifice fly to center.
Redshirt freshman Alan Copeland pitched two scoreless innings in the second game of the doubleheader and earned the win for the Bisons.
“It’s a great accomplishment for the baseball program, here at Harding and also for head coach (Patrick) McGaha,” Copeland said. “I am so thankful to have been put in the right spot, at the right time. God has blessed me with this opportunity to play for Harding, and for that I am truly thankful.”
Harding had 10 hits in game two. Junior Jeremy Bohnett went for a 3-for-3 with a run. The season is well underway with 16 wins. The biggest game of the season for the Bisons was defeating the No. 1 team 12-2 in the GAC, Delta State University, on Feb. 27.
“I think we have had a solid start and have learned a lot about our team,” Anzalone said. “This team never backs up from a challenge and I think that is a reflection of our coaches and guys we have in the program.”
The Bisons next home game is Friday, April 5 at 3 p.m. against Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
