Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Cooper Timmons hit three strikeout milestones and tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Ouachita Baptist University baseball team over Harding University on Friday at Rab Rodgers Field by a final score of 7-0.

The win gives the Tigers (36-15) a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series against the Bisons (33-18) with the winner of the series advancing to the Great American Conference Championship Tournament Final Four next week in Springdale at Arvest Ballpark. Game two of the Harding series is set for Saturday at noon. If needed, game three will also be played on Saturday, starting at approximately 3 p.m.

Timmons (7-4) went the distance in Friday's win over the Bisons for his second complete game of the season and first shutout of the campaign. He struck out 13 Harding batters, which set a new career high, while also moving him past 100 for the season and past 250 for his career. He now has 109 strikeouts this season and 253 for his career, ranking second at Ouachita in both categories.

The Tiger offense racked up 12 hits in the victory, marking the 25th game this season with at least 10. Jud Arrington accounted for three of the Tiger hits, while Dustin Bermudez, Michael Quinones, and Cole Bedwell each had two.

Bedwell and Quinones each had homeruns in the win. Bedwell hit his first career homerun in the fourth inning with a two-run shot to left center to put the Tigers up 3-0. Quinones hit his 10th round-tripper of the season with a two-run shot to right field in Ouachita's four-run seventh inning.