Harding (20-17) vs. Delta State (13-12)
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
Where: Searcy, Ark. (Jerry Moore Field)
Series: Delta State leads 39-7
Harding Notes
With five wins in its last six games, Harding will take on Delta State of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference in a single game Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Jerry Moore Field.
On March 10, Harding had a .241 team batting average. In the 17 games since, Harding has hit .321 and averaged 8.0 runs per nine innings. Leading the charge offensively over that stretch are four players with .300 or better batting averages, .400 or high on-base percentages, and .500 or better slugging percentages.
The quartet includes junior Zac Stewart (.393/.435/.541), senior Kyler Offenbacker (.392/.426/.510), junior Alan Copeland (.392/.439/.647), and junior Davis Richardson (.357/.449/.536).
Harding is 11-6 over the last 17 games, including 8-1 at home. Opponents have hit .271 and scored 5.04 runs per nine innings.
Harding is coming off a three-game home sweep of Arkansas-Monticello on Friday and Saturday. The Bisons have moved to 11-7 in the Great American Conference and climbed to third in the conference standings. The top six teams qualify for the GAC Tournament.
The second of Harding's three victories over the weekend marked the 400th collegiate victory for Bison head coach Dr. Patrick McGaha.
Harding's NCAA Division II Rankings (of 260 teams): Batting Average (178th, .269); On-Base Percentage (113th, .381), Slugging Percentage (154th, .383), Scoring (169th, 5.1), Earned Run Average (68th, 4.10), Fielding Percentage (14th, .973).
Delta State Notes
Delta State has won five of its last six games entering Tuesday's matchup. That includes a 32-7 victory over NCAA Division I Mississippi Valley State on April 1.
Delta State's top producer on offense is Ethan Gill, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior infielder from Pontotoc, Mississippi. Gill is hitting .378 with 14 extra-base hits, including six home runs, and a team-best 35 RBIs.
The Statesmen have a 5.26 ERA and opponents are hitting .276 with only 13 home runs.
Delta State's NCAA Division II Rankings (of 260 teams): Batting Average (62nd, .310), On-Base Percentage (37th, .405), Slugging Percentage (53rd, .462), Scoring (53rd, 7.0), Earned Run Average (128th, 4.95), Fielding Percentage (45th, .965).
Series
Harding and Delta State played once last season, with the Statesmen winning 3-1 in Searcy on March 18. In 2013, Harding won 12-2 in Searcy, and Delta State on 2-1 in Cleveland, Mississippi.
