March 25, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team heads to Seguin for a three-game American Southwest Conference series with Texas Lutheran, beginning Friday at 2 p.m.The two teams are 6-0 in ASC play and hold a three-game lead over their nearest competition in the ASC West.

"This is a big series, because both teams are 6-0," said HSU head coach Steve Coleman. "What you have to guard against is getting too high for a series like this. In reality, it is no bigger than Howard Payne or Sul Ross or McMurry or whoever, because you only play 21 games to decide a champion so anytime you play a conference series it is important."

The Cowboys had won six straight games before dropping a pair at Lubbock Christian on Tuesday. Texas Lutheran comes in with a gaudy 20-2 mark. However, both of their losses have come at home.

"Which ever team can put the magnitude aside and just go out, relax and play their type of game will come out on top," said Coleman. "I know this, it is more fun to be playing in games that mean more than where we have been the last couple of years."

HSU has relied on its high-octane offense early in the season. HSU has four regulars at .400 or better and all but one regular is over .320 on the year. Junior rightfielder Michael Popino leads the team with a .459 average with two home runs and a team best 26 RBIs.

Junior shortstop Barry Janisse has been solid at short and is hitting .456 with nine extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. Senior first baseman Andy Harrington, who missed Tuesday's games with an illness, is the team leader and is hitting .448 with four homers and 21 RBIs. Freshman centerfielder Michael Simpson, the reigning ASC player of the week, is hitting .400 with five homers and 23 RBIs. Junior outfielder Justin Wilson is hitting .367 and leads the team with 14 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles and four homers.

Freshman Brad Coleman has seen his average skyrocket over the last 10 games to .333 and senior second baseman Tim Donnelly has been solid in the field and is hitting .322 and leads the team with four stolen bases. Junior catcher Scott Drake is a solid defensive catcher.

The weekend rotation will see Craig Foreman (4-0, 3.47) on the weekend, Justin Wilson in game two (2-1, 10.42) and Brian Whitworth (5-1, 2.05) or Kyle Tabor (0-0, 0.00) in the finale. Whitworth won four games out of the bullpen last week.

TLU is led by John Krog, who has been injured for about two weeks, with a .432 average. TLU will send Matt Hunn (4-0, 4.50), Brian Wallace (4-1, 2.65) and Adam Enloe (3-0, 2.16) on the mound.

The Saturday doubleheader can be heard on KAGT 90.5 in Abilene or on the internet at www.hsuathletics.com.