Harding (27-21, 19-17 GAC) at Northwestern Oklahoma (10-34, 8-26 GAC)
Alva, Oklahoma • April 15 – 2 p.m. (Doubleheader), April 16 – 12 p.m. (Doubleheader)

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

THE COACHES
Phil Berry, Harding
    at Harding: 82-79 (3rd season)
    Career: same
    vs. NWOSU: 4-4
Charlie Zeilman, Northwestern Oklahoma
    at NWOSU: 10-34 (1st season)
    Career: 92-85 (4th season – 3 years at LSU-Alexandria (NAIA))

THE SERIES
Series Record: Tied 4-4
in Alva, Okla.: NWOSU 3-1
First Meeting: NWOSU 9-3 (3/28/14)
Last Meeting: HU 15-1 (3/30/15)
Current Streak: HU 3 games

 

The Harding softball team to make its longest trip of the season when it travels to Alva, Oklahoma to take on Northwestern Oklahoma in a four-game Great American Conference series starting Friday at 2 p.m. The teams will wrap up its series on Saturday in a doubleheader at noon.

Harding is 15-11 in true road games this season and is 20-14 away from the Harding Softball Field.

Harding Team Notes:
Harding is coming off a GAC doubleheader at No. 5 Arkansas Tech on Tuesday. The Lady Bisons split with the Goldens Suns as Arkansas Tech took the first game 5-1 and Harding took the second game 4-1. It was the Lady Bisons first win over a ranked opponent. Alexus Lawellin led Harding in the doubleheader with four hits. Kimmy Hendricks and Peyton Mills each had two RBIs.

Harding is currently in six place in the GAC standings. The top eight teams in the standings advance to the conference tournament held April 28-30 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Harding is hitting .314 to rank third in the GAC. Freshman Alexus Lawellin leads the Lady Bisons hitting .373 in 142 at bats. Senior Kinsey Beck is second on the team hitting .359 and junior Courtney Derrick, Harding's leadoff hitter, is hitting .353.

The Lady Bisons rank first in the GAC in hits with 412. Harding has three players in the top 10 in the conference in hits. Courtney Derrick ranks third with 50, Kinsey Beck ranks fourth with 56 and Alexus Lawellin is tied for sixth with 53.

Kimmy Hendricks leads the GAC and ranks 19th in NCAA Division II in RBIs with 49. Hendricks is hitting .282 on the season and leads the Lady Bisons with seven home runs, three have been grand slams.

Freshman Peyton Mills ranks tied for fifth in the GAC in runs scored with 40. In Harding's brief history, the Lady Bisons have only hit two walk-off home runs and both have been by Mills this season. She hit both at home as the first one was against East Central and the second one was against Arkansas-Monticello.

Harding ranks first in the GAC and 17th in NCAA Division II in stolen bases with 106 (2.26 per game). The Lady Bisons have 39 more stolen bases than second place in the GAC (Southeastern Okla. - 67). The Lady Bisons have five players ranked in the top 10 in the GAC. Peyton Mills ranks second with 23, Courtney Derrick ranks tied for third with 22, Kinsey Beck and Alexus Lawellin ranks tied for eighth with 15 and Kimmy Hendricks ranks 10th with 14.

Harding ranks first in the GAC in runs scored (265), hits (412), RBIs (239), doubles (67), stolen bases (106) and saves (10). The Lady Bisons rank second in the GAC in on base percentage (.386) and ranks third in the GAC in batting average (.314) and slugging percentage (.457).

Harding ranks eighth in the GAC with a 4.08 team ERA. Junior Hannah Johnson leads the Lady Bisons with a 2.77 ERA and a 14-8 record. She has also thrown 13 complete games.

Freshman pitcher Kelly Beth Ernest leads all of NCAA Division II with eight saves.

Harding has hit 34 home runs this season to rank fourth in the GAC. Of the Lady Bisons 34 home runs, five have been grand slams and Harding has had at least two runners on during 12 of the home runs.

Harding ranks seventh in the GAC with a .955 fielding percentage. The Lady Bisons have turned 25 double plays this season to rank first in the GAC.

Opponent Notes:
Northwestern Oklahoma heads into the series with a 10-34 overall record and a 8-26 GAC record. The Rangers are coming off a doubleheader split with Southwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday. Northwestern Oklahoma took the first game 8-6 but fell in the second game 10-1.

The Rangers have played their last six games at home and went 2-4 in those games. Northwestern Oklahoma has a 4-12 home record this season.

Northwestern Oklahoma is led at the plate by Jordan Haya who is hitting .352. She leads the team in hits (45), home runs (10) and RBIs (29).

The Rangers have a 5.07 team ERA. Madison Garza and Karly Murray will get the start each day. Garza has a 4.49 ERA and a 5-15 record in GAC leading 38 appearances. Murray has a 4.96 ERA and a 4-9 record in 30 appearances.

 

Northwestern Oklahoma Ranking in the GAC:

Batting Average: .226 – 12th
Hits: 281 – 12th
Home Runs: 27 – 9th
Wins: 10 – 12th
ERA: 5.07 – 11th
Strikeouts: 167 – 8th

 

Northwestern Oklahoma Players Ranking in the GAC:

Slugging Pct.: Jordan Haya - .688 – 6th

Doubles: Madison McGraw – 13 – t-3rd

Home Runs: Jordan Haya – 10 – 9th