CARROLLTON, Ga. – After two non-conference midweek matchups earlier this week, the University of West Georgia Baseball team returns to GSC play this weekend for a three-game series against the West Alabama Tigers.
The series will begin with a 3:00 p.m. EST doubleheader on Saturday before the two teams conclude the series with Game Three on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. EST.
UWG (14-13, 7-5 GSC) enters the weekend after dropping games to #1 Tampa and #7 Saint Leo on Tuesday and Wednesday while West Alabama (13-14, 6-9 GSC) comes in after a midweek loss to Columbus State on Tuesday.
The Wolves enter their series against the Tigers arguably playing their best baseball of the season. Last weekend, West Georgia swept Florida Southern before putting Tampa and Saint Leo on the ropes earlier this week. The biggest difference between the UWG team that took the field earlier in the season to the one that will take the field on Saturday and Sunday against West Alabama is the improved pitching. After the Wolves had their worst pitching performance of the season, giving up 22 runs against Montevallo on March 10, they have put together the best stretch of pitching of the year in their last six games. In the last six contests, UWG has accumulated a 4.86 ERA which is nearly three point lower than their ERA of 7.24 through the first 21 games of the season.
Brendan Parks has had a lot to do with the improved play on the hill for the Wolves as the lefty hasn't allowed an earned run in his last four outings. Parks transferred in from Kennesaw State in the offseason and struggled to begin his UWG career, but is now finding his rhythm at the midway point of the season. After having a 5.28 ERA through his first five appearances, Parks has gotten his ERA all the way down to 3.52 which now leads the team.
On the offensive side for UWG, they remain one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. With power hitters such as
Luke Hatcher,
Jared Emory, and
Sam Ladner, West Georgia ranks fifth in the league in home runs with 34. Hatcher and Emory are tied for the team lead and also sit fifth in the GSC with seven home runs while Ladner sits right behind them with six. On top of the Wolves power hitting trio,
Walt McConnell has been the hottest hitter on the team as of late. McConnell comes into the weekend batting .368 with one home run and four RBIs in his last five games, pushing his season batting average to .324.
Coming into their three-game series against West Georgia, West Alabama has struggled to put together any offense this season as they rank last in the GSC with a .242 batting average. The Tigers also rank last in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. First basemen, Cade Horton is the only player on West Alabama's roster that is hitting over .300 as the junior brings a team-high .347 batting average and a seven-game hitting streak into the weekend. Horton is by far the hardest out in the Tigers' lineup, so if the Wolves can contain him, they will put themselves in a good position this weekend.
On the mound, West Alabama currently has a 6.10 ERA and is led by their ace Roe Ketchum. Ketchum is 1-1 on the year with a 4.40 ERA which stands as the lowest ERA amongst the Tigers' starters. In his last outing the junior left-hander threw 7.0 innings while surrendering two runs on six hits.
Relivers Jace Dunsford and Laney Keeton both have sub-four ERAs as Dunsford leads the team with a 2.70 ERA with Keeton right behind him with a 3.20.
Dunsford has appeared in nine games so far and has struck out 12 batters while allowing seven hits. As for Keeton, he's appeared in eight games and has recorded 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings of work. UWG is primed to see all three of Ketchum, Dunsford, and Keeton this weekend as they look to remain hot at the plate.
First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. EST while Sunday's series finale is set for 2:00 p.m. EST.
