SEARCY, Ark. — A late surge by Southern Nazarene in the top of the ninth was not enough as SNU fell 6-3 at Harding Saturday in the first game of the three-game set.
 
The Crimson Storm matched the Bisons with 11 hits and didn't commit an error all day, but left 10 stranded.
 
Every player in the lineup had a hit as Dillon Feland led the way going 2-for-3. Mike Descisciolo was also 2-for-5 with an RBI.
 
Harding jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a home run, but SNU got on the board in the top of the third with a single to left center by Descisciolo. The Bisons pushed it to 3-1 in the third and added one each in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-1 lead. The Bisons got another insurance run in the eighth to lead 6-1, but the Storm didn't go away.
 
Dalen Edgar led off the inning with a walk before Jefferson Harris put runners at second and third with a double. An Austin Cooper ground out scored Edgar to make it 6-2 before Feland popped out to second for the second out of the inning. Garrett Perez singled through the right and then a Harding error scored Harris to make it 6-3 and put runners at second and third with the tying run at the plate. The Bisons though forced a ground out to end the game.
 
Austin Cooper (0-6) got the start and took the loss after giving up five runs on nine hits in seven innings of work. He struck out a career-high eight though. Joe Toilolo gave up just one run on two hits in an inning of relief.