Harding (5-10, 1-3) vs. Southern Nazarene (3-7, 2-4)
When: Saturday, March 7 (DH) at Noon; Sunday, March 8 at 1 p.m.
Where: Bethany, Okla.
Series: Harding leads 4-2
Harding Notes
Weather has again forced a change in Harding's baseball schedule. The Bisons were originally scheduled to play Southern Nazarene in a three-game, Great American Conference series in Searcy this weekend, but Jerry Moore Field is covered in snow and ice and the series has been moved to Bethany, Oklahoma.
The Bisons enter the weekend 1-3 in GAC games. Harding has had two conference games with Ouachita Baptist canceled due to weather. Harding is coming off a five-game series with St. Cloud State in Searcy that began Thursday and concluded Sunday. St. Cloud swept the series, winning four of the five games by one run.
Junior Harrison Hunter continues to lead the Harding offense. He leads the team with a .340 batting average, 17 hits, a .459 on-base percentage (7th in the GAC), and four stolen bases. Hunter has reached base at least once in all 15 of Harding's games.
Junior Davis Richardson has a team-leading six extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, .513 slugging percentage and 12 walks (2nd in the GAC).
Harding's pitching staff has a 2.90 team ERA, third among all GAC teams. The Bisons led the GAC in fielding percentage at .970 and have turned 11 double plays.
Southern Nazarene Notes
Southern Nazarene enters the series 3-7 overall and 2-4 GAC games. The Crimson Storm won its first two GAC games against Arkansas-Monticello but was swept in the three-game series last weekend by Southern Arkansas.
Southern Nazarene has a .259 team batting average and scores 5.0 runs per game. The Storm has three regulars hitting over .300, led by Anthony Wiggins at .351.
Southern Nazarene's pitching staff has a GAC-high 9.78 ERA. Opponents are hitting .347 off Storm pitchers.
Series
Harding has won two of three games in each of the first two GAC series against Southern Nazarene. The Bisons opened GAC play in Bethany against the Storm last season, winning 25-9 and 6-4 and losing 7-6.
Harding Hitters vs. Southern Nazarene: Noah Chandler (.385, 5-for-13, 6 R, 3 RBI), John Chapman (.250, 2-for-8, 3 R, 4 RBI), Kyler Offenbacker (.125, 1-for-8, 3 R, 3 RBI), Davis Richardson (.333, 3-for-9, 2 R, 1 HR, 6 RBI), Zac Stewart (.273, 3-for-11, 2 R, 2 RBI).
Harding Pitchers vs. Southern Nazarene: Collin Campbell (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 7 K), Alan Copeland (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 5 K), Andrew Fiddler (0-1, 36.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 1 K), Hunter Payne (0-0, 54.00 ERA, 0.1 IP), Zac Stewart (0-1, 12.27 ERA, 3.2 IP, 3 K).
