Courtesy University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Athletics Department
Four weeks into the regular-season, UAFS baseball coach Dale Harpenau couldn’t be more pleased with his team.
Sure, the Diamond Lions’ record is just above .500 at 5-4, but baseball is about winning series. UAFS has won two of its three Heartland Conference series and is a one big hit away from having won all three series.
The Diamond Lions lost their season opening series to then No. 15-ranked St. Edward’s 2-1 at Austin, Texas, but has since followed with a 2-1 series wins against then No. 1-ranked St. Mary’s at San Antonio, Texas, and previously undefeated Texas A&M International at Crowder Field this past weekend.
UAFS finished the third week of the regular season only two games back in the conference race already having made two of its toughest road trips of the season. The Diamond Lions will take a brief break from league play this weekend when they host provisional NCAA Division II member and conference newcomer McMurry University in a three-game series at Crowder Field.
The series will begin with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and finish with one nine-inning game at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Live statistics and webcast will be available.
It will be the first meeting ever between UAFS and McMurry, which is ineligible to compete for the conference title or qualify for postseason play because of its provisional status.
UAFS opened its series with Texas A&M International with a 13-3 run-rule loss in eight innings but responded with a doubleheader sweep with a 1-0 win and a 14-4 run-rule win in seven innings to take the series. It was the first two losses for TAMIU, which started the season 9-0.
The Diamond Lions are batting .242 as a team with 14 extra-base hits, including one home run. Four starters are batting .300 or better – outfielder Kyle Dickens (.348), senior outfielder Madison Beaird (.323), senior catcher Ben Smith (.310) and senior first baseman Gordon Miller (.300).
The UAFS pitching staff has compiled a 5.24 ERA with 33 walks and 37 strikeouts over 67 innings. Senior Neil Smith (2-1) leads all starters with a 3.79 ERA in three starts. The right-hander has nine walks and 13 strikeouts. Junior Koby Chadick (2-1) has a 4.50 ERA in three starts. The right-hander has 10 walks and 10 strikeouts.
Sophomore closer Hasten Freeman has converted all of his team-high three save opportunities and has not allowed an earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
McMurry (5-6) is 1-2 in series against conference opponents with a series sweep of Oklahoma Panhandle State and 2-1 series losses to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and No. 23 St. Edward’s University.
The War Hawks are coming off a 10-2 loss to crosstown rival Abilene Christian on Sunday.
McMurry is batting .248 as a team with 17 extra-base hits, including one home run. Three players are batting .300 or better – sophomore outfielder Eric Moritz (.429), sophomore catcher Zack Hagan (.313) and senior outfielder Dylan De Leon (.308).
The War Hawks pitching staff has compiled a 3.10 ERA with a combined 31 walks and 72 strikeouts over 90 innings. Six different pitchers have logged at least one start.
Junior right-hander Caleb Gonzales (1-0) has made four appearances with one start. He owns a 0.90 ERA with no walks and seven strikeouts in 10 innings. Senior right-hander Spencer Smith (1-0) has made three starts and owns a 0.93 ERA with five walks and 11 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. Senior reliever Charlie Hejny leads the team with two saves in five appearances.
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