Harding (4-2, 0-0) vs. Henderson State (4-0, 0-0)
When: Feb. 13 at 2 p.m., Feb. 14 at Noon (DH)
Where: Clyde Berry Field, Arkadelphia, Ark.
Series: Henderson State leads 85-65-1 (HSU leads 5-4 in GAC games)
Harding Notes
Harding opens its fourth season of Great American Conference action Friday with the first of three games against Henderson State at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.
Harding enters the game 4-2 overall and took two of three games from MIAA opponent Missouri Western State last weekend in Searcy. The Bisons lost Tuesday to Hendrix 5-1 in its final non-conference tune up.
Five Harding players enter the series hitting over .300. Zac Stewart, John Chapman and Noah Chandler have all started the season 7-for-19 and led the team with .368 batting averages. Harrison Hunter is hitting .333 and leads the team with six runs scored and four stolen bases.
Chandler and senior Shane Kinnear (.263) enter the weekend with four-game hitting streaks, and Alan Copeland (.318) leads the team with three multi-hit games already this season.
The Bisons have outscored their opponents 32-12 in the first six games of the season and have 14 extra-base hits to only four by their opponents.
Harding's pitching has been outstanding early. The Bisons have a staff ERA of 1.04 and have limited opponents to a .219 batting average. Harding's junior trio of Collin Campbell (1-0, 0.00), Andrew Fiddler (0-0, 0.82), and Jacob Stripling (1-1, 2.35) are the probable starters for the weekend.
One of the keys to Harding's early success has been its pitchers success with runners on base. The Bisons have limited opponents to two hits in 29 at-bats (.069) with runners in scoring position.
Henderson State Notes
Henderson State is the only remaining unbeaten team in the GAC. The Reddies had their first series of the season against Arkansas-Fort Smith rained out, but won all four their games at the Houston Winter Invitational, including two games against nationally-ranked teams.
Henderson State opened with an 8-3 victory over No. 22 Central Missouri and another 8-3 victory over No. 17 Arkansas Tech. The Reddies closed out the weekend with consecutive shutouts of Tarleton State (8-0) and Winona State (5-0).
Conner Brackhahn, a 5-8 senior outfielder from Sulphur Springs, Texas, and Claude Johnson, a first baseman from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, lead a Henderson State offense that is hitting .356 and has outscored its opponents 29-6. Brackhahn is hitting .571 with eight hits in 14 at-bats, and Johnson is hitting .476 with 10 hits, including seven for extra bases, and a team-high eight RBIs.
Henderson State boasts a 1.50 team ERA and has held opponents to a .172 batting average. The Reddies starting pitchers have allowed only one earned run and have a 0.37 ERA.
Series
Harding and Henderson State have played nine regular-season GAC games with the Reddies holding a 5-4 advantage. The road team has won two of three games in the series the last three seasons.
Harding Hitters vs. Henderson State: Noah Chandler (.375, 6-for-16, 3 R, 3 2B, 2 RBI), John Chapman (.333, 6-for-18, 2 R, 1 RBI), Alan Copeland (1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI), Harrison Hunter (.286, 2-for-7, 1 RBI), Shane Kinnear (1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI), Kyler Offenbacker (.250, 4-for-16, 4 R, 1 RBI), Davis Richardson (.111, 1-for-9, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI), Zac Stewart (2-for-5, 1 3B)
Harding Pitchers vs. Henderson State: Collin Campbell (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 11.0 IP, 7 K), Alan Copeland (0-0, 13.50, 1.1 IP), Andrew Fiddler (0-1, 1.29, 14.0, 11 K), Hunter Payne (0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 2 K), Zac Stewart (0-0, 0.00, 4.0 IP, 1 K), Jacob Stripling (1-0, 0.00, 7.2 IP, 5 K)
