April 1, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team will play a doubleheader at McMurry , beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday. That is a change from the one game slated for 7 p.m. Also, there will be only one game on Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m. The changes were put in place in anticipation of wet weather this weekend.

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Hardin-Simmons and cross-town rival will hook up in a key American Southwest Conference battle this weekend at McMurry's Driggers Field (S. 15th and Sayles). The two teams, who have both been in the middle of the pack the last few seasons in the ASC, are both lurking near the top of the leaderboard and the series could have huge ASC implications in a tight race.

HSU comes into the series with an 8-1 mark in league play, including winning two-of-three against second-place Texas Lutheran last weekend in Seguin. McMurry is 6-3 in league play and has yet to play either of the top two teams in the league. A series win would put the Cowboys at least three games ahead of the Indians with just three conference series to play. If McMurry were to win two-of-three, the Indians would then be just one game behind the Cowboys and a sweep would tie the two teams. HSU is trying to win its first-ever outright ASC West Championship. The winner of the West will host the ASC Tournament at the end of April.

Another key element of the weekend is that second-place Texas Lutheran and Concordia-Austin, who is tied with McMurry for third, will play a three-game set in Austin. The conference could separate this weekend or it could become a four-team fight to the end.

HSU has lost eight of the last 10 games against McMurry, but have won four of the last six games at Driggers Field, including a sweep in the 2000 season. McMurry leads the series 18-10. The two teams played in the ASC Final in 2001 with the Indians winning, 4-2. Ironically, the Indians are just 6-7 on their home field this season. Bragging rights are at stake for the overall athletic programs between the two schools for the year. HSU holds an 8-5-1 lead over McMurry in team sport victories for the year and one win by the Cowboys will give HSU the win in the season series.