SE Squares Off with Rival Tigers in Regular-Season Finale

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern heads into the final weekend of the regular season looking to lock up a berth in the Great American Conference Tournament but will need to take care of business versus rival East Central in a three-game series that has been adjusted due to weather forecasts, with games one and two slated for a noon doubleheader on Friday, April 25 in Ada, Okla., with the final game set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.
 
The Savage Storm enter the weekend with an 18-28 record on the season and a 13-17 mark in GAC play which has them in eighth place in the conference heading into the weekend.
 
Four teams are still in contention for the final two spots, which are currently held by Northwestern Oklahoma State and SE.
 
The Storm hold a one-game edge over Oklahoma Baptist in the standings as well as an edge in the tiebreaker between the two programs, OBU is set to play a three-game road series at Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla., beginning Friday.
 
Southeastern is coming off a midweek win over SNU in which Chase Keeton tied the school record for hits ion a single game with six, while Ryan Kirk broke the record for doubles in a single game with four.
 
Keeton's effort moved him to the top of the Storm stat sheet in batting average with a .383 mark that includes nine doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 33 RBI.
 
His average just edged past Welsey Mitchell who is right behind at .380 with 13 doubles, a conference-leading 18 home runs, and 51 RBI.
 
Colton Sagely and Carter Olson are each also hitting better then .300 on 50 or more at bats, while Brady Evans has chipped in 10 home runs, and Payton Poole has connected on nine.
 
Southeastern enters the final regular season weekend of the year just one home run short of tying the school record for home runs by a team which is currently 88 set in the 1999 season.
 
Daniel Collins comes into the series with a 6.20 ERA across his 12 starts and leads the team with 44 strikeouts, while Cody Pfeffer has been the team's top arm out of the bullpen with a 3-2 record and one save to go with a 5.18 ERA across 16 appearances.
 
ECU enters the weekend with a 14-32 record overall on the year and an 8-22 mark in GAC play.
 
The Tigers offense is led by Zac Carroll who is hitting .343 with four home runs and 37 RBI, while Weldon Sherrell and Tyler Akers are each hitting better than .300.
 
Cal Birchfield lead the ECU pitching staff with a 7.81 ERA across 10 starts, while Nate Windle has 43 strikeouts and Beau Driggers has recorded three saves.