Baseball Hosts NWOSU to Start GAC Play

Baseball | 2/19/2016 1:35:00 AM

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will set out to move back above .500 and open the Great American Conference season on the right foot when it welcomes Northwestern Oklahoma State to The Ballpark in Durant for a conference-opening three-game series Feb. 19-20, with Friday's single game at 2 p.m. with a double-header on Saturday at noon.
 
The Savage Storm enter the opener at 5-5 on the year but were 8-7 winners at Rogers State in their last time out.
 
SE is hitting .279 as a team, but does feature a trio of .300 or better hitters.
 
That group is led by Greg Husnander at .370 with 10 hits made up of three doubles and three homers along with four RBI.
 
He is joined by Dylan Helms who is hitting .350 with a team-best 14 hits with a double and three homers to go with a team-leading seven RBI with an also team-best 11 runs scored.
 
Tim Hunter rounds out the group of .300 hitters with a .321 average and nine hits with a double and two RBI with eight runs scored.
 
The SE pitching staff is paced overall by Matt Benedict who is 1-1 with a 0.77 ERA in four appearances with 11.2 innings pitched, allowing one run and striking out nine in that time while holding opponents to a .244 average.
 
Scott Richards carries a 2-0 record to lead the team's starts with a 3.38 ERA in three starts while tossing 16.0 innings and allowing six runs while posting a team-high 16 strikeouts.
 
Brady Colbert has seen his ERA raise, but has managed to pick up three saves in five appearances with nine strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.
 
NWOSU comes to town with a 2-6 record on the year, with both wins coming in a double-header sweep of Northeastern State in Alva, Okla., and the team has since dropped back-to-back games to West Texas A&M.
 
The Rangers are hitting .213 as a team with Greg Carrington leading that group with a .381 average with eight hits.
 
Matt Benn has the team's only home runs and is tied with Alexis Torres with a team-best three RBI.
 
Walker Wharton leads the teams starters with a 1-1 record and a 0.73 ERA in a pair of starts over which time he has tallied 12.1 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts.