SEARCY – Harding junior Ben Brauss walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to push across the winning run and give the Bisons a 5-4 victory over Oklahoma Baptist in the first game of a three-game Great American Conference series at Jerry Moore Field. All five of Harding's runs in the game scored with two outs.

The teams conclude the series Saturday at 1 p.m.

Brauss was the fourth Harding player to walk in the ninth against Oklahoma Baptist reliever Nick Burnham (1-1). Walks to Logan Fertig, Luke Van Dover, Brendan Perrett and Brauss all came after Burnham struck out the first two batters of the inning.

Harding led 4-3 entering the ninth, but Oklahoma Baptist tied the game when Brock Carter was hit by a pitch from Harding reliever Reed Roberts and came around to score on a wild pitch. Roberts (1-3) stranded the potential go-ahead runner on base and earned the win.

Harding broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh. Fertig singled to center with two outs to score David Butterfield from third.

A two-run sixth inning from Oklahoma Baptist had tied the game. Both runs scored Garrett McKee's single to center.

Sophomore Connor Kelly stole home in the fifth inning to push Harding's lead to 3-1. With two outs and runners at the corners, Jack Thomasbluffed a steal of second and when Oklahoma Baptist catcher Juan Gonzalez threw down, Kelly scampered home with no throw.

Harding took the lead for the first time with two runs in the third. An Oklahoma Baptist error extended the inning, and Harding scored on RBI singles from Kelly and Butterfield.

Oklahoma Baptist took a 1-0 lead in the second, scoring an unearned run.

Harding had three two-out hits and four hits with runners in scoring position. Oklahoma Baptist was 0-for-8 with two outs and 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Austin Allen started for Harding and pitched well, allowing only two earned runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out four, throwing 58 of his 100 pitches for strikes.

Oklahoma Baptist starter Albertus Barber did not escape the fifth inning. He allowed nine hits and three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Caleb Bly gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Burnham gave up only one hit in 2 2/3 innings, but walked six. Oklahoma Baptist pitchers combined to hit six Harding batters, one short of Harding's program record of seven HBPs at Delta State in 2009.

The teams combined for 48 at-bats with runners on base. Harding was 6-for-25 with runners on and left a season-high 17 runners on. Oklahoma Baptist was 4-for-23 and stranded nine.