RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Still battling around the top of the Great American Conference standings, the Arkansas Tech softball team is set to host Ouachita Baptist in a four-game conference series this weekend at Chartwells Women's Sports Complex.

The Golden Suns (28-12, 15-9 GAC) currently sit in fourth place in the league, three games back of leader Henderson State and just a game and a half out of third as they get set for the series against the Tigers (10-24, 6-17 GAC), who have won just four of 11 contests against the Suns since GAC play started.

The Tech pitching staff has been coming on strong through the second half of the season, lowering the team ERA to 3.10, which puts it second in the GAC. Tech pitchers haven't allowed more than four earned runs in the team's past 18 games, and have only allowed four twice throughout that span. All four regulars that take to the circle for the Suns are at a 3.18 ERA or lower.

Kelsie Barker sports the lowest mark on the team, with a 2.37 ERA and 3-2 record over 38 1/3 innings, adding in four saves in relief as well. Sydnee Clark posts a 2.71 ERA and 8-3 record, striking out 49 over 61 2/3 innings while allowing opponents just a .197 batting average against. Morgan Vaughan adds another sub-3.00 ERA with a 2.97, adding a 7-3 record over 14 starts, adding 45 strikeouts and just 27 walks over 70 2/3 innings. Victoria Huie has a team-high nine victories, with a 3.18 ERA, six complete games and 37 strikeouts in 79 1/3 innings.

The Golden Suns offense doesn't leave much room for error in opposing pitching staffs either, batting .316 as a team and averaging 6.4 runs per game on the season. Whitney Robinson is inching closer to a .400 average, batting .437 over her current 10-game hitting streak, adding team highs with eight doubles and 30 RBIs while also smacking nine home runs. Kambri Hill is also batting in the high .300s, sporting a .374 mark, leading the team with 10 home runs, a .720 slugging percentage a .477 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases while adding five doubles and 29 RBIs. Courtney Colunga is hitting .333 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs, Shanna Davidson .330 with eight homers and 27 RBIs and Ashley Savage .319 with nine homers and 29 RBIs.

The Tigers are averaging just under four runs per game, batting .270 as a team. Sarah Johnson leads the team with a .406 batting average, 13 doubles and 26 RBIs, as well as in slugging and on-base percentage. Kate Lacina bats .308 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs, while Jocelyn Jones adds a third .300 hitter, coming in a .307 with a pair of home runs and 14 RBIs. Delaney Bedunah and Macy Nantz are OBU's top pitchers, each starting 12 games on the season. Nantz has tossed seven complete games and three shutouts, striking out 46 over 80 1/3 innings. Bedunah leads the team with a 5.24 ERA.

The series is scheduled for a pair of doubleheaders at 4 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. Friday's pair of games can be heard live on 100.9-FM (KWKK) in Russellville, with live audio for those games and live statistics for all four games available at www.arkansastechsports.com.