Harding University Athletics

Jeff Montgomery

Davis Richardson helped lead Harding to a three-game sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma last season.

Baseball 4/21/2016 12:32:00 PM by Scott Goode (4/21/16)

Harding Baseball Plays Three at Southwestern Oklahoma Beginning Friday

Harding Baseball (20-23, 12-15) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma (27-12, 17-7)
Apr. 22, 2016 – 2 p.m. – SWOSU Baseball Field
Apr. 23, 2016 – 12 p.m. – DH – SWOSU Baseball Field

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

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 309-255 (11th season)
   Career: 428-347 (15th season)
   vs. Southwestern Okla.: 7-6
Zack Saunders, Southwestern Oklahoma

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 12-9

Harding swept Southwestern Oklahoma in a three-game series in Weatherford last season. The Bisons won 2-1, 5-3 and 1-0. Alan Copeland and Davis Richardson both went 3-for-7 (.429) in the series. Copeland's three hits included two doubles. Harding's pitching staff limited Southwestern to only three earned runs and had a 1.08 ERA in the series. Andrew Fiddler pitched a nine-inning complete game and did not allow an earned run.

From the record book: Harding tied a school record with three triples in one game at Southwestern on Apr. 5, 2014. In the same game, a 9-2 Harding victory, the Bisons set a school record with 21 assists. Twenty of the 27 outs recorded by Harding starter Logan Holthaus came on ground balls. Shortstop John Chapman handled nine ground ball outs.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 4-6, 3.81 ERA, 80 1/3 IP, 58 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 6-5, 4.46 ERA, 66 2/3 IP, 53 K
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 3-4, 3.58 ERA, 70 1/3 IP, 55 K

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
Harding enters the series in seventh place in the GAC standings at 12-15. The Bisons are within one game of sixth-place East Central at 13-14 and three games back of fifth-place Southern Arkansas.

Southwestern Oklahoma is tied with Arkansas-Monticello for first place in the GAC standings. The Bulldogs are 17-7 in GAC games and 27-12 overall.

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.
Harding won two of three games last weekend at home against Northwestern Oklahoma. The Bisons won 9-3 in Friday's opener and took the first game of Saturday's doubleheader 7-2 before falling 4-1 in the final game. Harding suffered a 5-2 loss to Arkansas-Monticello at home on Tuesday. Grant Guest hit his third home run of the season in the game for the Bisons, but Harding hitters were 0-for-12 with runners on base.

Southwestern swept a road series against Arkansas Tech last weekend in Russellville, Arkansas. The Bulldogs defeated the Wonder Boys 5-1, 14-3 and 5-4. Southwestern's game against Oklahoma City on Tuesday was postponed due to rain.

Harding ranks seventh in the GAC in scoring with 4.8 runs per game with Southwestern leading with 7.2 runs per game. Harding is fourth in ERA at 4.36 with Southwestern second at 3.98. The Bisons are fourth in fielding percentage at .968 with the Bulldogs seventh at .961.

Southwestern leads the GAC with a .288 batting average and 279 runs scored. Harding is tops in the conference with 16 triples. Bison pitchers lead the GAC with only 2.55 walks allowed per nine innings.

Harding's Zac Stewart continues to lead the conference in doubles (14), hits (64) and triples (7).

Harding starter Andrew Fiddler leads the GAC with 6.44 strikeouts per walk and leads with 1.01 walks per nine innings pitched.

Ben Schweifurth, a senior right-hander from Mustang, Oklahoma, leads GAC with a 2.36 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. Tanner Dearman, a senior from Anadarko, Oklahoma, leads the conference with a .478 on-base percentage and 52 runs scored. Senior Jacob Spring of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has a GAC-leading 54 RBIs.

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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

#13 Grant Guest: IF; 6' 1"; Sophomore; 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

#13 Grant Guest
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#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