SEARCY, Ark. -- A pair of big innings made the difference Saturday as Harding used a four-run sixth and five-run seventh to take a 12-2 decision in the opening game of a three-game series over the Missouri S&T baseball team Saturday afternoon.

The Miners and Bisons were tied at one apiece after five innings, but the hosts put four runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth, then broke the contest wide open with five more runs an inning later.

After a scoreless first four innings, the Miners got on the scoreboard first in the fifth when Will McCord (Kingman, Ariz./Kingman HS) walked with one out and scored on a double by Drew Davenport (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West).  However, the Bisons tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, then took the lead on Jason Nappi's two-run double that started the scoring in the four-run sixth.

S&T got one run back in the seventh after McCord reached on an error to start the inning and scored later on a hit by Zach Carter (Perkins, Okla./Perkins-Tryon), but the Bisons got five in their half of the seventh -- highighted by a two-run homer by Nappi, who had three hits and four runs batted in Saturday.

Harding scored two more runs in the eighth for the final margin.

The Miners were held to three hits by a trio of Harding pitchers, with Carter getting two of the three hits.  Starting pitcher Kyle Robertson (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) took the loss for S&T on the mound.

S&T (4-3) will face Harding in a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.