MAGNOLIA, Ark. - A clustered Great American Conference standings is once again in the spotlight this weekend as just three weekends remain in the regular season. Southern Arkansas crosses state lines and heads to Weatherford for a pivotal league set with Southwestern Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday. The Muleriders are a game back of a three-way tie for first place and are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against the Bulldogs who enter the weekend two games back of the conference's eight spot. Live coverage links of the action are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.
SAU and SWOSU meet for matchups 38, 39 and 40 in a series that dates back to the GAC's inaugural season of 2012. The Muleriders hold the series advantage 25-12, have won six straight against the Bulldogs and are 12-6 in games contested in Weatherford.
Southern Arkansas (23-14, 15-9 GAC) leads the GAC in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.82), WHIP (1.36) and walks allowed per nine (3.03). SAU ranks second in the league runs scored (280) and runs per game (7.6). The Muleriders are hitting .282 as a team with an on-base percentage of .403 (3rd GAC) and a slugging percentage of .470. SAU carries a team ERA of 4.30 (3rd GAC).
Brandon Nicoll leads SAU in average (.359), runs scored (38), hits (51), doubles (10), home runs (11), extra base hits (21), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.662) and assists (85). Will Richardson follows with a .343 average and 47 hits and leads with 39 RBI.
Mikel Howell leads SAU with five wins, Jeremy Adorno's 68 strikeouts paced the club and Tim Ruffino's 2.93 ERAis best among primary starters. Sean Sieve (0.87), Stetson Bishop (1.33) and Isaiah Haynes (2.45) all carry sub-2.5 ERAs along with eight appearances this spring. Austin Adair and Hayden Oglesby have combined for 37.1 innings pitched and a 27-to-8 K-to-BB ratio.
Southwestern Oklahoma doesn't currently lead the league in any statistical categories but holds top three rankings in walks (196), doubles (79), hit-by-pitch (70), on-base percentage (.415), run scored (268), runs per game (7.1) and stolen bases (50). SWOSU's 352 hits are the fourth-most in the league. The Bulldogs are hitting .290 (4th GAC) and own a team ERA of 5.62.
