Harding Baseball Hosts Southern Arkansas in Sunday/Monday Series

Harding Baseball (13-18, 6-12) vs. Southern Arkansas (20-11, 11-7)
Apr. 3, 2016 – 1 p.m. – DH – Jerry Moore Field
Apr. 4, 2016 – 1 p.m. – Jerry Moore Field

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

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 302-250 (11th season)
   Career: 421-342 (15th season)
   vs. Southern Ark.: 11-30
Steve Browning, Southern Ark. (6th season)

THE SERIES
Series Record: Southern Arkansas leads 112-53

Southern Arkansas won three of the five meetings between the teams last season. Harding outscored Southern Arkansas 13-6 in the GAC series in Magnolia, but the Muleriders won two one-run games before the Bisons won the finale 10-1. Southern Arkansas won 7-2 in a midweek game in Searcy, and Harding won 8-5 at the GAC Tournament in Enid, Oklahoma.

From the record book: Since 1997, Harding has played five extra-inning games of 13 innings or more. Southern Arkansas is the only team Harding has played twice in games that lasted 13 innings or longer, once in 1997 and once in 2003.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 2-5, 3.50 ERA, 61 2/3 IP, 42 K
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 2-3, 3.83 ERA, 51 2/3 IP, 39 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 5-4, 3.27 ERA, 52 1/3 IP, 39 K

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
Harding has five GAC series remaining in the regular season and is currently one game behind Arkansas Tech in the GAC standings for the final spot in the eight-team GAC Tournament. The Bisons are 6-12 in conference games with Arkansas Tech at 7-11.

Southern Arkansas is tied for fourth in the conference at 11-7. The Muleriders are 20-11 overall but only 5-7 on the road.

Harding won one of three games last weekend at East Central in Ada, Oklahoma. The Bisons fell 4-3 and 13-11 before winning the third game 6-4.

Southern Arkansas lost two of three last weekend at Henderson State but won a midweek game 10-9 over LSU-Shreveport.

KEY STATS
Harding is seventh in the GAC with a .260 batting average, ranks fifth with a 4.42 ERA and is third with a .969 fielding percentage.

Southern Arkansas is sixth in the GAC with a .282 batting average, leads the GAC with a 3.54 ERA, and is eighth with a .958 fielding percentage.

Harding leads the GAC and ranks seventh in Division II with only 2.40 walks allowed per nine innings.

Harding has been hit by a pitch 47 times this season, second-most in the GAC and 10th in Division II.

Southern Arkansas leads the GAC in ERA (3.54), hits per nine innings (8.83), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.68) and WHIP (1.31).

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harding senior Zac Stewart leads the GAC with a .386 batting average and with 49 hits. He is second in the conference with 10 doubles.

Harding senior Andrew Fiddler leads the GAC and ranks 20th in Division with 8.40 strikeouts per walk. He also leads the GAC and ranks 13th with 0.73 walks per nine innings.

Southern Arkansas sophomore Kenneth Tabor is 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA. He leads the GAC with six wins and 57 strikeouts.

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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