ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Baseball will begin the conference portion of the schedule with a three-game series against Harding University (7-1, 0-0 GAC). Due to the forecast in Alva, the series has been moved to Denison Texas at Dub Hayes Field.

This will be the 36th, 37th, and 38th meeting between the two programs since 2013 as Harding leads the series history 24-11 over the Rangers. This is a rematch of last season's playoff matchup. Harding has won four of the last five meetings between the two. 

Northwestern is 7-2 this season coming off a four-game series against New Mexico Highlands the Rangers won three of four and have won four of the last five games. 

In the last series out the Rangers won three of four outscoring New Mexico Highlands 50-18 in the four games led by Connor Green who earned Great American Conference Player of the Week, after hitting .609 with 11 RBI and four extra-base hits. 

The Rangers' offense is led by Connor Green hitting .563 one of two players hitting at least .500 joined by Hagen Barcello. Green has three home runs and 13 RBI as well. Carson Wright leads the team with four home runs on the season. Barcello has driven in the most runs with 20 RBI this season. As a team, the Rangers are hitting .334 with 16 home runs and 101 runs in nine games this season. 

Jacob Fuller has thrown the most innings for the Rangers this season with 10.2 and an ERA of 3.37 with 11 strikeouts also a team-high. Will Kates is second with 9.2 innings thrown and an ERA of 3.00. Jacob Shaw has the only save this season for the Rangers throwing 3.2 innings and an ERA of 0.00.

Entering conference play the Rangers are first in batting average, first in runs scored, and first in home runs.

HARDING BISONS:

The Bisons are 7-1 on the season and are in their opening conference series as well this weekend. Harding comes in winning five straight games after a sweep over McKendree. Last time Harding outscored McKendree in the four games 45-13.

Harding's offense is led by Colin Helms hitting .360 with the team's highest batting average joined by Sebastian Martinez, Logan Lacey, and Nathan Bowie all hitting over .300. Lacey and Helms each have one home run which are team highs heading into the series.

Pitching is led by Jay Merritt and Maddox Long, as Merrit has an ERA of 0.82 with 11 innings of work with 13 strikeouts. Long has 16 strikeouts in 11 innings of work with an ERA of 1.64. 

watch:https://www.youtube.com/nwosurangers

stats:https://riderangersride.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary

For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Athletics, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.