SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (4-6) is finally back in Shawnee this weekend, however, with cold temperatures and ice in the area, the Bison's home-opening series will take place at FireLake Ball Fields.
On Feb. 14, OBU will face Fort Hays State at 11 a.m. before a 3 p.m. matchup with Washburn. Live stats and video with play-by-play coverage from Todd Miller will be provided. Tickets are $10 while seniors ($8) and student tickets ($5) will be available for purchase on-site.
The Tigers from FHSU boast a 2-2 record while the Ichabods of Washburn bring a 5-4 overall mark into the weekend.
Below you'll find notes on all three teams.
Bison Notes
- OBU went 2-2 last weekend in Edmond at the UCO/OC Invitational. That included a 12-7 win over UCO and 12-6 triumph against Western New Mexico.
- The victory over the Bronchos was the biggest in 29 all-time meeting versus the MIAA school.
- Against WNMU, freshman Haley Hacker accomplished something that no other Bison had achieved in the D2 era.
- The Prague native went 3-for-3 in the batter's box with three runs scored and four RBI. No other OBU player had reached those totals in a game before.
- This season, Hacker ranks top-five in the GAC in these categories: slugging (.880), runs scored (11), home runs (2) and total bases (22).
- Plus, senior teammate Sammie Greene is slotted fifth in the GAC with a .545 on-base percentage, sixth in runs scored (8) and third with nine stolen bags.
- In the circle, Jaycee Shaffer leads the staff with a 2.04 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Each of those marks are in the top-10 in the conference.
- Furthermore, Morgan Max's eight appearances leads the GAC while her eight strikeouts looks is slotted tied for first.
- As a team, OBU is tenth of 12 GAC schools in batting (.261) but are two off the GAC lead with eight homers.
- Also of note, the staff's 65 strikeouts are tops in the league.
Tigers Notes
- Friday's game for Fort Hays State will be its first since Feb. 8 against Southwest Baptist in Wichita Falls.
- Historically, FHSU has struggled with OBU, losing eight of 11 all-time matchups. Last February, the Bison won 5-2.
- The Tigers' biggest strength so far is their pitching. With 7.30 team strikeouts per seven innings, they are 15th in the nation and first in the MIAA.
- Offensively, FHSU ranks second in the MIAA in home runs per game (0.75) and on-base percentage (.434).
- Madison Pierce's 0.583 on-base percentage is No. 2 in the MIAA while her .900 slugging mark is first.
- Also, Morgan Schmidt is fourth in the conference and 61st nationally with a 7.9 strikeouts per seven innings total.
Ichabod Notes
- Washburn was handed a 6-4 loss to Missouri – St. Louis in Bentonville, Ark., on Feb. 8.
- This will be the fifth all-time matchup with OBU. Washburn leads 4-1 but lost in the last meeting, last February in Edmond, 3-2.
- Washburn's 16 doubles are No. 22 nationally and second in the MIAA.
- They also have notched three shutouts, which rank fifth in Division II nad first in the conference.
- Plus, Washburn is one of only two teams in the country to have turned a triple play this season.
- Pitcher Sadie Walker has three complete games this season. Those rank No. 16 in the country and second in the MIAA.
- Walker also leads the MIAA and checks in 16th nationally with 32 strikeouts.
- Offensively, Ellington Hogle's 11 RBI's are third in the conference and No. 36 in D2 while Alexis Tanguma's four doubles are No. 24 across America.
