RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech baseball will play its final two home games of the season this week, as the Wonder Boys host No. 5 Delta State in a two game non-conference series. The series is scheduled to begin with a single game on Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m., followed by a single game on Wednesday, April, 18 at 2 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live statistics for both games are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Delta State leads the all-time series against Tech, 49-10. The Statesmen have won four of the last six contests, however the two teams split the series last season as the Wonder Boys took the first game 10-3 before falling 4-3 in the second game on March 8.
 
SCOUTING THE WONDER BOYS
Arkansas Tech (26-14, 18-9 GAC) has won five of its last six games, including two wins against then 15^th-ranked Arkansas-Monticello last weekend. The most recent win for the Wonder Boys came on Sunday in a 15-7 victory over the Boll Weevils. After taking two of three from UAM, Tech has now won eight consecutive conference series. Arkansas Tech currently sits in third in the GAC standings.
 
In the last 10 games, Tech has posted a .360 team batting average while limiting opponents to hit just .285. Britt Stroth leads the Wonder Boys with a .500 average in the last 10 games, and his .361 average on the season ranks 12^th in the GAC. Mark Vaughn has hit .467 in the past 10 games, and Korey Thompson has batted .400 during that same span.
 
Hayes Cox has moved into fourth in the GAC with a 3.20 earned-run average on the season, after pitching a one-run complete game in his last appearance. Cox is also tied for second in the conference in wins with seven. Michael Mueller has posted a 5.35 earned-run average, while ranking fourth in the GAC in strikeouts (67) and fifth in the conference in innings pitched (63.0). Jared Droll has tallied a 2-1 record in 23.2 innings of work and leads the team with a 2.66 ERA.
 
SCOUTING THE STATESMEN
Delta State (30-7, 18-4 GSC) has won ten of its last 11 games, including three wins over GAC opponents as the Statesmen rolled past Southern Arkansas 26-4, before defeating Arkansas-Monticello 19-9 and Harding 8-3. Delta State sits atop the Gulf South Conference with an 18-4 conference record and is also the No. 5 ranked team in Division II.
 
The Statesmen lead the GSC and rank ninth in Division II with a .333 team batting average, as they have nine players batting over .300, led by Zack Shannon, who ranks fifth the country with a .455 batting average. Shannon also leads all of Division II with a 1.066 slugging percentage, 24 home runs, 57 runs, 74 RBIs and 146 total bases. Delta State is also ranked sixth in the country in runs scored (352) and are 14^th in team slugging percentage (.512).
 
Seth Birdsong leads the Delta State pitching staff in wins (7), innings pitched (66.0), and strikeouts (56). Melvin Frazier has posted a team-best 1.93 earned-run average, while Tyler Walton has posted a 4.04 earned-run average with a perfect 6-0 record in a team-high 15 appearances.