Harding (22-28) vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (27-23)
When: Saturday
Location: Commerce, Texas
Time: 1 p.m. DH
Coaches:
Harding – Phil Berry (54-54, 2nd season)
Texas A&M-Commerce – Richie Bruister (27-23, 1st season)
Live Stats/Live Video – Available on a link at HardingSports.com
HARDING
- Harding travels to Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday for a non-conference doubleheader that is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., in Commerce, Texas. It will be the last regular season doubleheader for the Lady Bisons.
- Harding heads into the game with a 22-28 overall record. Harding has a Great American Conference series bye this weekend as it wrapped up its GAC regular season schedule last weekend. The Lady Bisons went 3-1 at Ouachita Baptist and sealed a spot in the GAC Tournament held April 30 – May 2nd in Bentonville, Arkansas with a 15-15 GAC record.
- Harding is 10-8 on the road this season. The Lady Bisons have won eight of their last 10 road games.
- Harding is coming off a non-conference doubleheader against Texas A&M-Commerce at home on Thursday. The Lions won both games, winning 4-3 (8 innings) and 6-5 (6 innings).
- The Lady Bisons are led on the season by sophomore Mackenzie Jones who is hitting .365. Jones leads the team in hits with 57 and RBIs with 33. Kimmy Hendricks is hitting .321 with 45 hits and 26 RBIs. She leads the team with 43 runs scored.
- Senior pitcher Amber Rollins leads Harding's pitching staff with a 2.44 ERA which is second in the GAC. She has made 25 starts, thrown 19 complete games and has one shutout. She ranks fourth in the GAC in strikeouts with 118.
- Harding ranks sixth in the GAC with a .305 team batting average. The Lady Bisons have recorded 422 hits this season ranking them fourth in the GAC. Harding also ranks fifth in the GAC with a .393 on base percentage. The Lady Bisons lead the GAC in doubles with 85 and stolen bases with 98.
- Harding's pitching staff ranks third in the GAC with a 3.39 ERA. The Lady Bisons have only given up 24 home runs which is the fewest in the GAC.
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
- Texas A&M-Commerce, who is a NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference, heads into the doubleheader with a 27-23 overall record. This is its first year of collegiate softball for the Lions.
- The Lions are 7-1 against Great American Conference. Before Thursday, Texas A&M-Commerce defeated Southern Nazarene 18-0 and 6-2, lost to Southwestern Oklahoma 8-6, defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 2-1 and then defeated Southern Arkansas 10-6 and 9-7.
- The Lions are 18-6 at home this season. Texas A&M-Commerce has won its last five home games.
- The Lions are led by Magen Lynch who is hitting .353 and Luci Ponce who is hitting .352. Both players have over 50 hits and over 40 runs scored. December Rivers leads the team in RBIs with 47.
- Texas A&M-Commerce has a 4.21 team ERA. The Lions are led by Courtney Moore who has a 2.88 ERA. Moore has thrown seven complete games and has four saves.
- The Lions have stolen 125 bases this season to rank sixth in NCAA Division II. Lynch leads the team with 34.
SERIES
- Texas A&M-Commerce leads the series 2-0.
- In the two games on Thursday, Carolyn Clayton hit .667 with four hits, two doubles and two RBIs. Emily Jones hit .600 with three hits, two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.
