Harding Baseball Hosts Northwestern Oklahoma in GAC Series

Harding Baseball (18-21, 10-14) vs. Northwestern Oklahoma (12-28, 9-15)
Apr. 15, 2016 – 1 p.m. – Jerry Moore Field
Apr. 16, 2016 – 12 p.m. – DH –Jerry Moore Field

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

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 307-253 (11th season)
   Career: 426-345 (15th season)
   vs. Northwestern Okla.: 8-1
Sam Carel, Northwestern Okla.

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 8-1

Harding swept Northwestern Oklahoma in three games last season in Alva, Oklahoma. The Bisons won 13-1, 9-1 and 13-6. Davis Richardson and John Chapman both hit .500 in the series, and the Bisons hit .392 with 14 extra-base hits in the series. Harding's pitchers had a 2.62 ERA with 22 strikeouts and only four walks in 24 innings.

From the record book: Last season, in Harding's 13-1 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma, the Bisons set a school record with five sacrifice bunts, including two each from Chapman and Alan Copeland.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 3-6, 3.84 ERA, 72 2/3 IP, 53 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 6-4, 4.21 ERA, 62 IP, 49 K
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 2-4, 3.78 ERA, 64 1/3 IP, 49 K

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
Harding enters the series in seventh place in the GAC standings at 10-14. The Bisons can only move up in the standings this week by sweeping Northwestern Oklahoma and having Arkansas-Monticello sweep East Central, who is currently three games ahead of Harding in sixth place.

Northwestern Oklahoma is one game behind Harding and tied with Arkansas Tech for eighth place in the conference standings. The Rangers have lost four straight and were swept last weekend at Henderson State, losing two of the three games by a single run.

The top eight teams qualify for the GAC Tournament with the top four teams hosting a three-game series to determine who moves on to the four-team tournament in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Both Harding and Northwestern Oklahoma are coming of one-run losses in non-conference games on Tuesday. Harding fell 5-4 at Southern Arkansas with Bison senior Zac Stewart going 4-for-5 with a run scored, his third four-hit game this season. Harding's bullpen was impressive in the game, allowing only one earned run on six hits over the final seven innings.

Northwestern lost 9-8 to Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday. Ranger third baseman Jeremy Smith was 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI. Oklahoma Christian scored the game-winning run on a passed ball with no outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Harding ranks seventh in the GAC in scoring with 4.7 runs per game with Northwestern at 11th with 3.8 runs per game. Harding is fourth in ERA at 4.45 with Northwestern sixth at 4.91. The Bisons are fourth in fielding percentage at .966 with the Rangers ninth at .951.

Northwestern Oklahoma leads the GAC with 55 stolen bases. Harding is tops in the conference with 14 triples. Bison pitchers lead the GAC with only 2.67 walks allowed per nine innings.

Harding's Zac Stewart continues to lead the conference in doubles (13), hits (57) and total bases (92).

Harding starter Andrew Fiddler became just the third Harding pitcher to reach 200 career strikeouts in his last outing. With two strikeouts against Northwestern, Fiddler will move past Robert Helvering into second place on Harding's career strikeouts list.

Northwestern senior Robert Lawhon, a transfer from South Carolina, is 5-6 with a 4.31 ERA. The right-hander leads the GAC and ranks 12th in Division II with 74 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings.

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Players Mentioned

#2 John Chapman: IF; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#9 Alan Copeland: IF/P; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; 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

#2 John Chapman
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: IF

#9 Alan Copeland
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: IF/P

#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