Talk About Z Baseball Hardballers Fall On Rocky Times Hoping to improve the record posted by the 1979 squad, the Bison baseball team en~ tered the 1980 season feeling optimism and enthusiasm. The '79 team, though blessed with experience, won only two conference games out of twelve. As in that year, the 1980 Bison hardbailers initially had senior leadership . but several sophomores and freshmen had to step in and hold down key posit ions. That inexperience, plus the rather strong teams in the Ale, cost the Bisons a 3·11 confe rence and 8·18 overall record. The season began with Harding hosting Kansas Newman College. Playing two double-headers in the series, the Bisons surrendered all four games to KNC. Kansas Newman relied on strong ballers in the first and last games as they rolled to 11 ~ 1 and 18~lO wins while the Bisons played them close in the two middle contests, losing by one run both, 4~3 and 3~2 . Refusing to throw in the towel pre~ maturely, the Bi sons dropped Mississippi Industrial College in a double~header at Berryhill Park. With the 6~2 and 6~3 victor~ ies, the Black and Gold's record was extended 2-4. 306 Baseball Arkansas Tech opened the hard bailers' conference season. The Wonder Boys, with three of the top six hitters in the AIC. relied on a strong offense and good pitching from Jerry Klyne to take the doubleheader 6~1 and 12-l. After losing twice to Christian Brothers College, the Bisons travelled to Memphis to play Southwestern of Memphis. In that two game trip existed the third victory of the year, a 7-3 decision following a 7~6 loss in the first game. Later in the season, the Bisons picked up four wins in a row. Hosting Rust College from Miss issippi, Harding turned in spec~ tacular offensive shows in downing Rust 1O~3 and 18-4. Conference foe, University of Arkansas at Monticello was the next vic~ tim. UCA, the eventual league champions, turned back any chance for a Bison upset and swept a doubleheader by the scores of 5~4 and 3~2 before the Bi sons were allowed their next victory. Against Henderson State, the Black and Gold took a 3-1 win before being humiliated 13~2 in the second game. The win against Henderson was their last , as they fell to College of the Ozarks and Southern Arkansas University in their last four games. Individually, several Bisons had an impressive season. Mark Kay led the hillers with a .356 average . Mike Moody, the team's MYP, ranked second behind Kay with a .329 average and set a club record with eleven home runs. Freshman Stan Val~ _ Jim Murp hy entine led the team pitchers with a 3~O record and a 3.66 earned run average. Moody, a catcher, and Kay, an outfielder, were selected to the All~AIC team. Gain~ ing honorable mention were first baseman Steve Ashcraft and outfielder Rieke Stew~ arl. Stewart was selected for the NAJA District 17 team while Moody and Doug Cow~ den drew honorable mention. ~ Jill! M urphy
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