SHAWNEE – Looking to build on the momentum created recently, Oklahoma Baptist will venture to Southeastern Oklahoma State this weekend for a three-game series.
On April 1, the two teams will play at 2 p.m. before a noon doubleheader on April 2. OBU possesses a 15-13 record and 10-8 GAC mark which is a game back of SE (22-9, 11-7) who currently is in fourth place.
The Bison have won four in a row after a three-game series sweep over Arkansas Tech and single-game win against East Central a couple days ago.
Leading the charge in recent games is
Kade Self. He has notched team-highs in average (.533), hits (8) and RBI (9). Self leads the GAC in BA (.468) and slugging (.974) too.
Collectively, the green and gold continue to rank among the best in America.
· 49th in batting average (.313)
· T26th in doubles (66)
· National leader with 59 home runs
· 20th in scoring (9.2)
· 10th in slugging (.576)
Helping compile those totals are a host of talented players:
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Isiah Lissade: GAC leader in hits (45) and stolen bases (11)
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Dan Pruitt: 13 homers are tied for fourth nationally; 41 runs scored & 11 stolen bases are atop the GAC
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Alex Schroeder: 38 RBI are third in the GAC and .735 slugging mark is sixth-best
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Walker Keller: 10 doubles rank tied for seventh in the GAC
On the mound, OBU has gained some headway in the last week. The team's ERA of 6.09 is fifth-best in the GAC while its 268 strikeouts are atop the league. Plus, with a 10.5 strikeouts-per-nine-inning mark, the Bison check in 19th nationally. Here have been the key pitchers for OBU to date:
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Bo Dallas: second in the GAC in ERA (3.09) and fourth in strikeouts (48)
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Brek Galbreath: 42 strikeouts rank 10th
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Garrett Kellogg-Clarke: has two saves and two wins on the mound
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Will Duncan: 1.64 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched
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Sam Gamboa: Has 38 strikeouts to just eight walks in 24.2 innings
Southeastern has been a little up and down lately, losing five of eight. Included in that was a three-game sweep by No. 8 (NCBWA) Southern Arkansas on March 25-26.
Leading the way for SE has been a standout freshman: Reid Rice. He is the national leader with 16 homers while ranking eighth with 41 runs driven in. In 23 of the 30 games Rice has played in, he has recorded at least one hit.
After Rice, Cameron French and Angel Ochoa are each batting over .303 with 10 doubles apiece. Collectively, this will have been one of the best offensive lineups OBU has faced this year. Twelve different players have notched multiple home runs for Southeastern.
Pitching-wise, Cole Canuteson has been a main contributor for the SE staff. He's got a 3-1 record in eight appearances and a 4.60 ERA. His 35 strikeouts are a team-best.
Rounding out the Storm's best pitchers are a few players:
· Dylan Turner: In 11 appearances has a 3.34 ERA with 29 strikeouts
· Connor Priest: Tied for the staff-high with four wins
· Jackson Sioson: His seven saves are two off the national lead
