Baseball to Challenge League Leader at ATU

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist will have a grand opportunity to close ground on conference leader Arkansas Tech when the two play a three-game baseball series beginning with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. The third and final game will be Saturday at 1 p.m. All games will be played at the Tech Baseball Field in Russellville, Ark.

OBU enters the series in a tie for third with Arkansas-Monticello in the Great American Conference standings at 15-10 overall and 10-5 in GAC play. The Bison are three full games back of ATU, the current leader of the 12-team conference at 19-8 overall and 13-2 in league play.

WHO: Oklahoma Baptist (15-10, 10-5 GAC) vs. Arkansas Tech (19-8, 13-2 GAC)
WHERE: Tech Baseball Field in Russellville, Ark.
WHEN: Friday, March 22 at 1/4 p.m; Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE WEBCAST: Click HERE

Joey Pledger has been the team's top hitter over the last week with a .538 average on seven-of-13 hitting, while Jake Gozzo has smashed three homers in the last four games to boost his team lead to eight.

A.J. Merkel and Jake Lipetzky are likely to start in two of the three games on the mound. Merkel has not given up an earned run in the last 7.1 innings, while Lipetzky has had more strikeouts (33) than innings pitched (29.1).