Harding Baseball

Harding (22-15, 13-8) vs. Henderson State (15-22, 9-12)

Location: Jerry Moore Field, Searcy, Ark.

Times: Friday, Apr. 11 at 3 p.m. & Saturday, Apr. 12 (DH) at noon

Series: HSU leads 83-64-1

Coaches: Harding - Dr. Patrick McGaha (256-198, 9th season at Harding). Henderson State - Cody Hooten (81-102-1, 4th season at Harding)

Coverage: Live stats and video available on HardingSports.com.

Harding will look to climb into the top three in the Great American Conference standings, and Henderson State will look to climb back into the race for a spot in the GAC Tournament as the teams meet for a three-game series at Jerry Moore Field in Searcy.

Harding is 22-15 overall and 13-8 in GAC games. The Bisons are in fourth place in the GAC standings but are within reach of each of the top three teams. Harding trails first-place Arkansas Tech by 3 games, second-place Arkansas-Monticello by 2 1/2 games, and third-place Southern Arkansas by 1/2 game.

Henderson State is 15-22 overall and 9-12 in the GAC. The Reddies are two games out of the sixth and final GAC Tournament spot.

Harding enters the series ranked fourth in the GAC in hitting with a .283 average. The Bisons are seventh in slugging percentage (.375) and sixth in on-base percentage (.371). Henderson State is 10th in average (.267) and slugging percentage (.335) and ninth in on-base percentage (.357).

The Bisons' top hitter is Matt Calhoun, who currently leads the GAC in hitting at .384. Calhoun is fourth in the GAC in both on-base percentage (.460) and slugging percentage (.600).

Henderson State's leading hitter is junior Matt Evans, who has a team-best .339 average. He also leads the team in hits (38), doubles (11), and RBI (19).

Harding's pitching staff is second in the GAC with a 3.62 ERA and a .258 batting average. The Bisons' probable starters for the weekend will be senior Logan Holthaus (4-1, 3.47), senior Cameron Walker (3-3, 5.47), and sophomore Collin Campbell (6-1, 3.65). Sophomore reliever Andrew Fiddler is eighth in the GAC with a 2.85 ERA.

Henderson State has a 5.39 ERA, ninth in the GAC, and .267 opponents batting average. The Reddies' top starter is freshman Dylan Howell, who is fifth in the GAC with a 2.50 ERA.

NCAA Stats: Harding ranks fourth in NCAA II in double plays (39) and ninth in fielding percentage (.975) ... Fiddler ranks 20th in strikeouts/9 innings (10.95) ... Henderson State's Hunter Mayall ranks 26th in NCAA II with 20 stolen bases.