GAME DAY INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH WONDER BOYS 21-13 (18-9 GAC)	HARDING BISONS 19-15 (14-13 GAC)
Friday, April 30 | 6 p.m. Russellville, Ark. | Baswell Field LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO Saturday, May 1 | 1 p.m. | DH Russellville, Ark. | Baswell Field LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Fresh off of a thrilling walk-off victory over Northwestern Oklahoma in the series finale this past Monday, the Arkansas Tech baseball team is back at home for another weekend series, this time playing host to Harding as part of the Great American Conference's Rivalry Weekend.
 
Usually tabbed as the final regular season series each year, this year's series with Harding will take place with another conference weekend to be played as a result of a schedule change due to winter weather that took in the GAC footprint during the opening weekend of conference play back in February.
 
While not the final series of the regular season, this three-game slate still brings a ton of significance as the Wonder Boys remain in contention of the GAC Regular Season Championship. Meanwhile, the Bisons are looking to secure their place in the upcoming conference tournament.
 
Entering the series, the Wonder Boys are 21-13 overall and 18-9 in GAC play. Their conference record has them currently tied with Oklahoma Baptist for second place in the standings and two games back of league-leading Southern Arkansas who is 20-7 in GAC action. In the other dugout, the Bisons will enter with a 19-15 overall record and a 14-13 mark in GAC play. They are currently in eighth place in the standings, three games up on Ouachita in ninth place, and would stand to be the final team make the GAC Tournament.
 
Statistically, the Wonder Boys are hitting .327 as a team (374-for-1143) and have a team slugging percentage of .507 and a team on-base percentage of .410. Collectively, the offense has scored 249 runs and hit 76 doubles, 14 triples and 34 home runs.
 
Seven of the lineup regulars are currently hitting over .300 with four over the .350 mark. The leading hitter in terms of average is Trace Maddux at .391 (45-for-115). He also has the team's second-best slugging percentage at .626 thanks to 10 doubles, four triples and three home runs. In terms of home run threats, the Wonder Boys have three players, Jonathon Arrieta, Josh Detweiler and Evan Hafley tied for the team-lead with seven. Arrieta is leading the team in RBIs with 34.
 
On the mound, the Wonder Boys have a 4.19 team ERA and have registered 310 strikeouts in 273.0 innings pitched. In the rotation, Tech has used the same three starters all season with Hayes Cox, Patrick Miner and Riyan Rodriguez all having made 11 starts so far. That trio has combined for a 15-9 record and 168 strikeouts in 170.1 innings. Cox and Miner are tied for the most wins with six each and Miner is currently the team-leader in strikeouts with 69.
 
Out of the bullpen, the Wonder Boys have had two relievers appear in double-digit games in Mason Griffin (Rogers, Ark.) and Nick Kovar. Griffin is 2-1 in 11 relief appearances and has 38 strikeouts in 21.1 innings of work (14.4 strikeouts/9inings). Kovar is 1-0 with four saves. In 16 relief appearances, he has a 0.59 ERA and has 16 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.
 
For the Bisons, they currently have a .319 team batting average (370-for-1160) and have a team slugging percentage of .502 and a team on-base percentage of .399. As a team, the Bisons have scored 252 runs and have hit 79 doubles, 17 triples and 33 home runs.
 
Six of their everyday players are hitting over .300 with three over the .350 mark. The leading hitter in terms of batting average is David Butterfield at .414 (53-for-128). Butterfield also has the top slugging percentage on the team at .703 thanks to 13 doubles, three triples and six RBIs. His 27 RBIs also rank third on the team. The top power threats for the Bisons are Butterfield, Michael Chrisman and Harrison Heffley as all three are tied with six home runs each. Connor Kelly has knocked in the most runs with 37.
 
On the mound, the Bisons have a 6.06 team ERA and have registered 233 strikeouts in 279.0 innings of work. Andrew Bradshaw and Ty Hoecker have been two of the primary weekend starters as Bradshaw has pitched and started eight games and Hoecker in nine games. Bradshaw has logged the most innings at 46.1 and is 6-1 with a 4.86 ERA. Hoecker has the most strikeouts among starters with 39 in 45.1 innings.
 
The Bisons' top overall pitcher comes from the bullpen in the form of Ryder Yakel. Yakel is 4-1 with six saves. He has appeared in 12 games and made one start, a complete game against Northwestern Oklahoma. In 37.2 innings of work, Yakel has a 2.39 ERA and has a team-leading 41 strikeouts.