SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (4-5, 1-2 GAC) is venturing to Arkansas-Monticello (4-5, 3-0 GAC) on Feb. 20-21 for a three-game Great American Conference series with the Boll Weevils.
Game one takes place Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. before a Feb. 21 doubleheader beginning at noon. This has been a close series since competition started in 2016. UAM holds an 18-14 advantage. A season ago, the Bison won two of three in Shawnee.
Here are notes on both teams.
For the Bison:
OBU is coming off a 12-10 win at home against Central Oklahoma. In that game, the team produced a season-high three homers and 11 RBI. Plus,
Logan Wade earned his second save.
Wade's two saves are tied for fifth in the nation while starter
Kody Bialas' 21 strikeouts rank 21st and his three games started are slotted eighth.
As a staff, OBU's earned run average of 4.92 checks in at 58th nationally and first in the GAC.
Furthermore, the staff strikes out 10.2 per nine innings. That's tops in the GAC and a top-25 national mark. Also, OBU is 20th nationally – and first in the league – in hits allowed per nine (7.67).
Offensively, a few things stick out.
Quinn Johnson is fifth in the GAC in batting average (.444) while
Tui Amosa ranks third in the nation with three sacrifice flies. Plus.
Lucas Schaefer's .593 on-base percentage is No. 2 in the conference.
For the Weevils:
Over the last two games, a win over SNU and loss to Delta State, UAM has scored 37 runs. The Weevils are third in the GAC in scoring (7.9).
With 17 home runs so far, Arkansas-Monticello leads the GAC and is seventh in D2. They are also 28th in slugging percentage (.535).
On the mound, though, UAM has struggled. Their team ERA of 7.13 in ninth in the GAC and they allow 11.59 hits per game. That mark is 10th in the league.
Individually, Camden Tanner's .556 batting average leads the GAC and is slotted 24th in D2. He averages 2.17 hits per game, also first in the conference.
On the mound, Cody Graf and John White each have saves while Hunter Heath's 1.00 ERA is fourth in the league. Heath is also seventh in the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.00).
Also of note, Darcy Barry, Drew Floyd and Tanner each have hit three homers while four other Weevils have recorded a pair.
