Harding Baseball Plays Sunday and Monday in GAC Series at Southern Nazarene

Harding Baseball (10-10, 4-5) vs. Southern Nazarene (2-16, 2-7)
Mar. 13, 2016 – 2 p.m. – Cypert Athletic Facility
Mar. 14, 2016 – 11 a.m. – DH – Cypert Athletic Facility

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

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 299-242 (11th season)
   Career: 418-334 (15th season)
   vs. Southern Nazarene: 7-2
Robert Lee, Southern Nazarene (5th season)

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 7-2 … the Bisons won all three games last season in Bethany … this will be the third straight series between the teams in Bethany.

Harding defeated Southern Nazarene 25-9 on Feb. 21, 2014. The 25 runs were the most Harding has ever scored in an NCAA game. Harding had six doubles and four home runs in the game, and Davis Richardson drove in six.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHER
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 1-3, 3.29 ERA, 41 IP, 26 K
                GAC leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.67) and WHIP (0.90)
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 2-2, 3.57 ERA, 35 1/3 IP, 24 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 4-2, 1.98 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 26 K
                2nd in the GAC in ERA

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
With one victory in the series, Harding coach Patrick McGaha will earn his 300th victory as the Bisons' head coach.

Harding enters the series 4-5 in GAC games, good for a tie for sixth among teams eligible for the GAC Tournament. This is the fourth of 11 GAC series. The top eight teams qualify for the tournament with the top four teams hosting a first-round series.

Southern Nazarene is 2-7 in GAC games and is in 11th place in the GAC. The Crimson Storm snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over Arkansas Tech in the third game of their series last weekend in Russellville.

KEY STATS
Harding is ninth in the GAC in scoring with 3.8 runs per game. The Bisons lead the GAC and rank 40th in Division II with a 3.59 ERA, and Harding leads the GAC and ranks fifth in Division II with a .981 fielding percentage.

Southern Nazarene is 11th in the GAC in scoring with 3.3 runs per game, 11th with a 7.95 ERA and 11th with a .938 fielding percentage.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zac Stewart, Noah Chandler and Jesse Cox have all reached base in Harding's last five games. Stewart is hitting .371 in conference games with a 992 OPS. Guest is hitting .321 in GAC games.

Hunter Payne has two of Harding's four conference wins on the mound and a team-best 2.45 ERA in GAC games.

Southern Nazarene reliever Cody Tolbert has already made 10 appearances this season, the most by a GAC pitcher and 16th in Division II.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Harding's pitching staff is 13th in Division II in WHIP (1.18), 16th in walks per nine innings (2.50) and 33rd in hits per nine innings (8.11).

Zac Stewart leads the GAC with eight doubles.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Noah Chandler: IF; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#7 Jesse Cox: OF; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#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

#20 Davis Richardson: C; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; S/R

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

Players Mentioned

#17 Noah Chandler
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: IF

#7 Jesse Cox
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#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

#20 Davis Richardson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; S/R
: C

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