Harding (0-0) at Christian Brothers (0-0)
Jan. 30, 2016 • Bland Field • Memphis, Tenn. • 12 p.m. (Doubleheader)

HOW TO FOLLOW
Internet:
    Video: www.HardingSports.com
    Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Phil Berry, Harding
    at Harding: 55-58 (3rd season)
    Career: same
    vs. CBU: 5-1
Mandi Balduf
    at CBU: 10-41 (2nd season)
    Career: 193-215 (9th season)

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 5-1
in Memphis: Tied 1-1
First Meeting: HU 5-1 (2/25/14)
Last Meeting: HU 10-1 (3/11/15)
Current Streak: HU, 4 games

The Harding softball team will open its 2016 season at Christian Brothers on Saturday in non-conference action. The two teams will play a double-header starting at 12 p.m., at Bland Field.

It will be the second straight year the teams have faced off to open the season.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding is 2-0 in season openers. The Lady Bisons defeated Northeastern State 6-4 in 2014 and then defeated Christian Brothers 9-1 last season.

Harding returns 10 players from last year's squad that went 28-32 overall and 15-15 in the Great American Conference.

Mackenzie Jones returns for her junior season after leading the Lady Bisons with a .365 batting average.

Senior Taylor Friend is Harding's only returning pitcher from last season. Friend made 16 appearances and struck out 15.

Series Notes:
Harding and Christian Brothers are meeting for the seventh and eighth time.

Series Individual Records, Harding vs. Christian Brothers:
    Hits – 4, Marley Edwards (1/31/2015)
    RBI's – 4, two times – last by Marley Edwards (1/31/2015)
    Runs – 3, two times

Opponent Notes:
Christian Brothers, a NCAA Division II member of the Gulf South Conference, returns seven starters from last season that went 10-41 overall and 3-26 in the GSC.

Sophomore outfielder Holly Oyhenart is the top returner for the Lady Bucs. She hit .338 last season with 11 RBI's.

Kasey Beekman, who returns for her senior season, led Christian Brothers in the circle with a 5.99 ERA.