SWOSU (6-2, 0-0 GAC) at Arkansas Tech (2-6, 0-0 GAC)

Russellville, Ark. (Baswell Field)

Sunday-Monday, February 15-16 (Times TBA)

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Baseball season is officially in full swing, and the Dawgs have been off to a quick start. SWOSU opened the season with nine straight home games and will go on the road for the first time this season. The opening series against Northwest Missouri State ended in a 2-2 split. The Dawgs then swept Adams State before downing Randall 24-3 on Tuesday in the final tune up leading into the start of conference play.
 
With that win, SWOSU carries a six-game win streak into Arkansas Tech for its first Great American Conference series of the season.
 
SWOSU dropped a close game one against NWMSU, 3-2, but answered with a 15-5 run-rule win in game two of the opening doubleheader. The Dawgs then lost game three before run-ruling the Bearcats again in game four, 15-4. The series sweep against Adams State was fueled by an efficient offense, as the Bulldogs outscored the visiting Grizzlies 40-24. Game four was capped off by a Rusty Wortman walk-off home run in extra innings.
 
The Dawgs (7-2, 0-0 GAC) enter their first conference matchup ranked No. 10 in the initial NCBWA Central Region rankings. Arkansas Tech (2-6, 0-0 GAC), the preseason favorite to win the league, comes in looking to bounce back from a rough start. The Wonder Boys earned their third straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the GAC regular season title.
 
SWOSU has not won a conference series against Tech since sweeping the Wonder Boys in 2021. The Dawgs have dropped 10 of their last 11 meetings with ATU and have been swept in their past two trips to Russellville in 2024 and 2022. The all-time series dates back to 2010, with Arkansas Tech holding a 30-17 advantage.
 
Despite the 2-6 start, Tech remains a tough opponent. Their opening schedule featured two teams receiving votes in national polls, along with a four-game set against the No. 2-ranked team in the country, Central Missouri. The Wonder Boys got back on track in their latest midweek contest against Arkansas-Monticello, earning a 5-2 win.
 
Offensively, the Dawgs have been a force so far this season. SWOSU leads the GAC in multiple categories, including batting average, runs scored, triples, RBIs, total bases, walks, and sacrifice flies. They also have multiple individual leaders. First baseman Nolan McCrossin leads the conference in doubles and RBIs. Kotaro Wakui and Zach Makarewich are tied for the league lead in triples and are the only two players in the conference with multiple triples on the season. SWOSU also holds four of the top five spots in runs scored.
 
Landon Meyer, the Dawgs' third baseman, is the reigning GAC Player of the Week after a dominant series against Adams State. Meyer finished 9-for-16 with three home runs, two doubles, and nine RBIs. He leads the team in home runs with three and remains the only Bulldog with multiple home runs in a game this season.
 
In addition to being one of the top offenses in the conference, SWOSU also ranks highly at the Division II level. The Bulldogs sit in the top five nationally in batting average, top 10 in hits, top 15 in runs scored, and top three in triples.
 
The pitching staff has also been solid early on, allowing just 5.77 runs per game. As a team, SWOSU leads the GAC in strikeouts with 79 and also leads the league in saves. While the Bulldogs don't have an individual stat leader yet, it has been a consistent all-around effort through the first nine games.
 
Walks have been the staff's biggest snag. SWOSU pitchers have issued 46 walks through nine games and hit another 19 batters, totaling 65 free passes so far this season. That is the second-highest free pass total in the league, trailing only Arkansas Tech, which has issued 69 free passes between 63 walks and six hit batsmen.