SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (18-15, 10-11 GAC) has a critical three-game Great American Conference series at Southwestern Oklahoma State this coming weekend. On March 7, the two teams play at 2 p.m. before a March 8 doubleheader at noon.
With three weekends left of conference action, the Bison are holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot. As for Southwestern (19-16, 11-10 GAC), it is a game ahead of the Bison and are positioned in seventh. This series has been very close with OBU holding an 11-8 advantage. A season ago, the Bison swept the regular-season games.
The green and gold are coming off an impressive win against MIAA opponent Northeastern State on April 4. In that game, five different players recorded multiple hits led by
Isiah Lissade's three. Plus,
Dan Pruitt recorded two homers.
OBU also got good pitching headlined by
Logan Kimbro,
Jordan Brewer and
Cameron Pool.
The Bison will need that pitching come Friday. SWOSU has offensive ranks all over the GAC. Take a look: leader in runs scored (321), doubles (80) and batting average (.331). The Bulldogs are also slotted second in hits (378), RBI (284) and total bases (585). Individually, Caleb Clines, Alex Rice and Geoff Marlow are among the best hitters in the league.
On the pitching front, SWOSU has had some struggles. It ranks ninth of 12 teams in opposing batting average (.305) and tenth in ERA (7.31). They do, though, rank fourth in batters struck out looking (73). Leading the staff are Ernesto Hidrogo and Jackson Phillips. Each have made at least 11 appearances with Hidrogo posting a staff-best 4.63 earned run average. Phillips has struck out 58 batters, good for sixth in the GAC.
As for the Bison, Pruitt has been on a solid streak offensively. He has an eight-game hitting streak, homers in five of those games and a team-high 19 RBI. The senior first baseman has ascended to top-three in the GAC in slugging (.772) and home runs (13). Additionally,
Kade Self ranks top-three with 50 RBI. Furthermore,
Alex Schroeder ranks in the top-five of the GAC in homers (11) and slugging (.675).
Leading the Bison pitching staff is senior
Jake Hamilton. He is littered across the conference statistical rankings including second in batters struck out looking (20) as well as fifth in opposing batting average (.227). As a unit, OBU ranks sixth in team era (6.52).
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