Richland-Eastfield Series Begins Wednesday

DALLAS – Dallas College Richland's 15^th-ranked baseball team hosts No. 2 Dallas College Eastfield 12 p.m. Wednesday to begin a three-game series.

The matchup features the top two teams in the Dallas Athletic Conference standings. Richland (14-13-1, 7-2 DAC) sits a game behind Eastfield (23-7, 8-1) in the league.

The Thunderducks, who entered the Top 15 this week, have won their past five conference games. The Harvester Bees have won five of their last six, including the final two of their last DAC series against then No. 6 Dallas College North Lake.

This is the first of two series against Eastfield for the Thunderducks.

Richland outfielder Barrett Howard is batting .351 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in. He ranks second among National Junior College Athletic Association Division III leaders in homers, behind Eastfield third baseman Sebastian Palma's 13. Palma, who leads the Bees with a .386 average, also tops the nation in RBI (48). Thunderducks catcher Caleb Solis and Harvester Bees right fielder/designated hitter Erik Aguirre are tied for third in the country in RBI with 31 apiece. Eastfield second baseman Angel Gutierrez, who is batting .363, leads NJCAA Division III in stolen bases (31). Harvester Bees shortstop Sergio Gastelum is third with 24.

Thunderducks left fielder Brandon Bell is hitting .343 with nine doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI. Second baseman Xavier Perdomo owns a .329 average with two doubles, a home run, 11 RBI and four stolen bases.

Eastfield outfielder Luke Sasser is hitting .323 with seven doubles, a triple, 24 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Aguirre is batting .372 with nine doubles, a triple, six homers and 10 stolen bases to go along with his 31 RBI.

Thunderducks pitcher JT Posten is 4-0 with one save in 11 relief appearances. He is tied for second in the nation, along with Eastfield starter Ian Roberts in wins. Eastfield's Miguel Amason leads the country with five victories. Richland's Hank Nokes has three saves, which is tied for second in NJCAA Division III. Eastfield's Trevor Berquist has two.

Richland, which is hitting .271 as a team overall and .319 in conference, is 9-4-1 at home this season. Eastfield, batting .332 as a club, with a .355 average in DAC games, owns a 7-3 road record.

Saturday's 12 p.m. series finale at Eastfield is scheduled to be broadcast on the DAC Sports Network.