Harding (7-17, 2-8 GAC) vs. Arkansas Tech (18-6, 9-3 GAC)
When: Tuesday
Time: 4 p.m. DH
Coaches:
Harding – Phil Berry (39-43, 2nd season)
Arkansas Tech – Kristina McSweeney (75-56, 3rd season)
Live Stats – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
HARDING
- Harding will continue Great American Conference action on Tuesday when it travels to Russellville, Arkansas to face Arkansas Tech. The teams will play a four game series split up by a doubleheader on Tuesday and a doubleheader on April 7 in Searcy.
- The Lady Bisons head into the series with a 7-17 overall record and a 2-8 GAC record. Harding is coming off a GAC series against Arkansas-Monticello. The teams were only allowed to get in two of the four games last weekend due to rain. The Cotton Blossoms won the first game 5-4 in nine innings and the Lady Bisons won the second game 7-2
- Harding is 1-5 on the road this season. The Lady Bisons win came at Southern Nazarene when they won 6-2.
- The Lady Bisons are led on the season by sophomore Mackenzie Jones who ranks fifth in the GAC with a .421 batting average. She leads the team in hits and ranks tied for fifth in the GAC with 32. Jones also ranks tied for second in doubles with nine and she has drove in a team-high 18 RBIs.
- Senior pitcher Amber Rollins leads Harding's pitching staff with a 2.70 ERA. She has made 12 starts this season and has thrown nine complete games. She ranks fourth in the GAC in strike outs with 67.
- Sophomore Kimmy Hendricks ranks third in the GAC in on base percentage (.523) and tied for fourth in runs scored (25). She also is the most walked batter in the GAC. Hendricks has drawn 19 walks this season.
- Harding ranks sixth in the GAC with a .305 team batting average. The Lady Bisons rank fifth in the GAC in hits (201) and RBIs (115). Harding also ranks tied for second in doubles (41) and ranks tied for third in triples (4).
- Harding's pitching staff ranks sixth in the GAC with a 4.20 ERA. The Lady Bisons have given up 13 home runs this season which is the fewest in the GAC.
- Harding has stolen 48 bases this season to lead the GAC. Sophomore Courtney Derrick and Kimmy Hendricks rank tied for second in the GAC with 13.
ARKANSAS TECH
- Arkansas Tech heads into Tuesday with an 18-6 overall record and a 9-3 GAC record. The Golden Suns are currently in third place in the GAC standings.
- Arkansas Tech has won five straight games and has won eight of its last nine games. Its only loss came when it fell to Arkansas-Monticello 2-1.
- The Golden Suns are coming off a GAC series sweep of Southern Arkansas last weekend. Arkansas Tech won 4-3, 9-7, 7-0 and 11-1.
- The Golden Suns are 5-1 at home this season. It will be the third GAC series they have played home.
- Arkansas Tech is led by Samantha Herweck who is hitting .423. Courtney Colunga is hitting .403 and has 31 hits, seven homeruns and 24 RBIs.
- The Golden Suns are led in the circle by Morgan Vaughn who has a 3.11 ERA and a 5-1 record.
SERIES
- Harding leads the series 3-1.
- The Lady Bisons swept Arkansas Tech in Searcy last season winning 4-3 and 4-3. The teams split in Russellville as Harding took the first game 4-3 but fell in the second game 6-3.
- Last season against Arkansas Tech, Harding was led by Amanda Berdon who hit .444 in nine at bats. She had four hits, two runs scored, two homeruns and three RBIs. She had a 1.111 slugging percentage against the Golden Suns last season.
- Amber Rollins had a 2.33 ERA last season against the Golden Suns. She went 3-0 in three appearances, throwing two complete games. Rollins struck out 15 Arkansas Tech batters last season.
