Harding University Athletics

Alan Copeland and the Bisons will take on GAC leader Arkansas-Monticello on the road.

Baseball 4/7/2016 2:59:00 PM by Scott Goode (4/7/16)

Harding Baseball Travels to Meet GAC Leader Arkansas-Monticello

Harding Baseball (15-20, 7-14) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (22-8, 14-4)
Apr. 8, 2016 – 2 p.m. – Weevils Field
Apr. 9, 2016 – 12 p.m. – DH – Weevils Field

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

THE COACHES
Dr. Patrick McGaha, Harding
   at Harding: 304-252 (11th season)
   Career: 423-344 (15th season)
   vs. Ark.-Monticello: 21-17
John Harvey, Ark.-Monticello (6th season)

THE SERIES
Series Record: Harding leads 87-71

Harding won three of the four games played against Arkansas-Monticello last season, sweeping the three-game GAC series at home and falling 7-4 in a non-conference game in Monticello. Harding hit .344 in the four games and outscored Arkansas-Monticello 23-13.

From the record book: On April 17, 2010, Harding defeated Arkansas-Monticello 23-14 in Monticello and set a school record with 10 doubles in the game. UAM hit five home runs in the game, tied for the third-most allowed by Harding.

HARDING'S PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Andrew Fiddler (SR, RHP) – 2-6, 3.65 ERA, 66 2/3 IP, 46 K
Andrew Ralston (SR, RHP) – 2-4, 4.08 ERA, 57 1/3 IP, 42 K
Hunter Payne (SR, RHP) – 6-4, 3.45 ERA, 57 1/3 IP, 48 K

WATCH TO WATCH FOR
With four GAC series remaining, Harding is ninth in the standings among teams eligible for the GAC Tournament. The Bisons are 7-14 in conference games, one game behind eighth-place Arkansas Tech, and will take Arkansas-Monticello, the conference leader, on the road this weekend.

Harding swept the series against Arkansas-Monticello last season in Searcy and will be looking for its second series victory in conference play and first since winning two of three at Ouachita Baptist.

Arkansas-Monticello, who has played three fewer conference games than Harding due to rainouts, has won all six of its GAC series, including sweeps of Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist.

Harding is 7-8 on the road, and Arkansas-Monticello is 12-3 at home.

KEY STATS
Harding is eighth in the GAC with a .259 batting average, ranks fourth with a 4.43 ERA and is fifth with a .965 fielding percentage.

Arkansas-Monticello is fifth in the GAC with a .280 batting average, ranks sixth with a 4.63 ERA, and leads the GAC with a .972 fielding percentage.

Harding leads the GAC and ranks sixth in Division II with only 2.36 walks allowed per nine innings. The Bisons also lead the GAC and rank 24th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.76).

Arkansas-Monticello leads the GAC with 1.00 home run per game. The Weevils have a GAC-leading .437 slugging percentage.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harding senior Zac Stewart ranks third in the GAC with 29 hits in conference games.

Arkansas-Monticello pitchers Zach McKnight and Braden Chambers are a combined 10-0 in GAC games. McKnight leads the GAC with a 1.52 ERA in conference games, and Chambers is second at 1.80.

UAM senior Corey Wood ranks fourth in the conference in batting average in GAC games at .383 and leads the conference in slugging percentage (.800) and on-base percentage (.493).

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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