Harding Baseball Battles Ouachita in GAC Road Series

Harding Baseball (5-7, 1-2) vs. Ouachita Baptist (3-8, 1-2)
Feb. 26, 2016 – 2 p.m. – Rab Rogers Field
Feb. 20, 2016 – DH -- Noon – Rab Rogers Field

HOW TO FOLLOW
Internet:
   Streaming: None
    Live Stats: www.HardingSports.com

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 294-239 (11th season)
   Career: 413-331 (15th season)
   vs. Ouachita: 16-16
Kyle Hope, Ouachita Baptist
   at OBU: 3-8 (1st season)
   Career: same

THE SERIES
Series Record: Ouachita leads 86-83-2 … Ouachita won two of the three games last season … the Tigers won 10-3 in Arkadelphia, and the teams split GAC games with Harding winning 7-4 and Ouachita winning 8-6 in Searcy.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 1-1, 2.92 ERA, 24.2 IP, 13 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 2-2, 2.25 ERA, 24.0 IP, 19 K … 7th in the GAC in ERA
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 1-2, 2.74 ERA, 23.0 IP, 15 K … 11th in the GAC in ERA

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
Two teams hoping to improve on their Great American Conference starts will meet Friday and Saturday at Rab Rogers Field in Arkadelphia. Harding won its opener against Henderson State 6-5 in 12 innings but managed only two runs in losing the next two games. Ouachita Baptist also won its opener 10-7 over Arkansas Tech but lost 13-2 and 5-4 in a Saturday doubleheader in Russellville.

Harding's defense has been even best than last season's when the Bisons won the NCAA Division II fielding title with a .977 fielding percentage. This season, the Bisons have only seven errors and a .983 fielding percentage. Harding's pitching staff has a 3.84 ERA, third in the GAC, but the Bisons are ninth in team batting average at .244.

Ouachita is fifth in the GAC with a .267 batting average, but has struggled on the mound. The Tigers are ninth with a 6.85 ERA.

KEY STATS
Harding's starting pitching has a 2.64 ERA and a .212 opponents' batting average. The Bison bullpen has a 7.09 ERA and .306 opponents' batting average.

Harding's offense has hit .280 and scored 5.6 runs per nine innings against opposing starters. The Bisons have hit .174 and averaged 2.6 runs per nine innings against opposing relievers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harding senior leftfielder Zac Stewart leads the Bisons with a .391 average, a .429 on-base percentage, and a .587 slugging percentage. Stewart enters the game with a team-best eight-game hitting streak. All six of his RBIs this week have come with two outs. Stewart is hitting .452 against right-handed pitchers.

Ouachita's Justin Weigle has walked nine times, been hit by a pitch four times and ranks fourth in the GAC with a .478 on-base percentage.

Tiger right-hander Connor Eller was a preseason All-America selection. He is 1-1 with a 4.12 ERA in three starts. He has 20 strikeouts and six walks in 19 2/3 innings.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Harding leads the GAC with five triples … Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma are the only GAC teams with just one home run … Harding's pitchers have walked only 27 hitters and allowed only nine doubles, fewest of any team in the GAC … Ouachita has allowed a GAC-high nine triples … Ouachita is 11th in the GAC in fielding percentage with a conference-high 25 errors.

UP NEXT
Harding will return to Arkadelphia on Tuesday to take on Henderson State in a non-conference game at 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Andrew Fiddler: P; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#30 Hunter Payne: P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#32 Andrew Ralston: P; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#23 Zac Stewart: OF/P; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#12 Andrew Fiddler
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: P

#30 Hunter Payne
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: P

#32 Andrew Ralston
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: P

#23 Zac Stewart
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: OF/P