AUSTIN, Texas – The 16th-ranked Concordia University Texas baseball team will close out its four-game home stand this weekend when the squad hosts Howard Payne in a three-game American Southwest Conference (ASC) series. The set opens at 7 p.m. Friday and will conclude with a 1 p.m. doubleheader a day later.

The Tornados (21-6, 16-4 ASC) returned to their winning ways following Tuesday's 6-1 triumph over Schreiner. Concordia Texas sits atop the league standings, three and a half games clear of both LeTourneau and Mary Hardin-Baylor, which are tied for second place.

The CTX pitching staff continues to be one of the nation's best. The Tornados rank second in the country with a 1.82 ERA. Concordia also leads the ASC in opposing batting average (.221) and strikeouts (171).

The Tornados' starting rotation is 17-3 with a 1.61 ERA, 121 strikeouts and only 40 walks in 162.1 innings of work this spring. Concordia's bullpen is 4-3 with a 2.41 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 17 walks in 59.2 panels.

Meanwhile, CTX's lineup ranks third in the circuit with a .299 batting average. The Tornados average 6.5 games per contest, while leading the league in on-base percentage (.414) and walks (127).

The Yellow Jackets (13-13, 10-11 ASC) have won three of their last four games, including two of three last weekend against LeTourneau. Howard Payne currently sits in seventh place in the conference standings, one game behind Sul Ross State and six and a half back of Concordia. The squad is hitting .278 and holds a 5.06 ERA.

The two teams have met 58 times previously with the Tornados holding a 38-20 advantage in the all-time series. Concordia has won 12 straight contests against the Yellow Jackets.

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	Games #28-30 #16 Concordia Texas (21-6, 16-4 ASC) vs. Howard Payne (13-13, 10-11 ASC)
Statistics Roster Schedule	Friday, April 11 – 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12 – 1/3 p.m. Tornado Field Austin, Texas Coverage Live stats Live video Series History Concordia Texas leads, 38-20 Last Meeting Concordia Texas 4, Howard Payne 0 (March 9, 2013  •  Brownwood, Texas)	Website Statistics Roster Schedule