Senior pitcher Lucas Waddell broke Harding’s record for most career wins on March 16 against Southern Arkansas University. Waddell’s win sent him into the top spot in the record books with 23 wins. Matt Walter was the previous record holder with 22 wins. Waddell also earned the win for the Bisons against Northwestern Oklahoma State on March 30, giving him his 24th career win.
Waddell, who is from Ladner, British Columbia, has appeared in 46 games for the Bisons with 39 starts. Waddell’s overall career record is 24-10. This season Waddell is 3-2.
Waddell was a preferred walk-on his freshman year at Harding. This meant that he was given a roster spot without scholarship. He was unable to work out with the Bisons when he visited before joining the team, but coach Patrick McGaha wanted Waddell on the team.
“He was a young man that we were hoping to get the chance to work out and he had a little bit of an arm issue when he came to visit,” McGaha said. “We offered him a preferred walk-on position. He took that and embraced it and he has worked really hard.”
Waddell is now on scholarship after performing well in a handful of games his freshman year for the Bisons. As a freshman he was a mid-week starter and eventually became one of the weekend conference game starters.
Coming into his freshman year, Waddell said he had no expectations for the season.
“I got to play more than I thought I would my freshman year,” Waddell said. “Then from there I was getting more and more opportunities. I thrived off of those opportunities and stuff fell into place.”
Someone Waddell said he looks up to is his teammate, senior Paul Anzalone, who Waddell said is a hard worker and selfless player.
Anzalone said that Waddell has become one of his close friends since being at Harding together.
Anzalone described Waddell as a calm, easygoing player, but also as very competitive.
“We all know he will give us a chance to win when he is on the mound,” Anzalone said. “Lucas pitches best in the biggest situations, which speaks to his competitiveness.”
According to Waddell, the Bisons have struggled the last several games, but he said he is confident they will step up.
“We have so much talent,” Waddell said. “We don’t need to put unneeded pressure on ourselves. It is easier said than done, but I like where we are as a team.”
The Bisons will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University and Arkansas Tech University in GAC play before the season wraps up.
The GAC conference tournament is scheduled for May 4-7.
