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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Starting the season with a nationally-ranked opponent, the University of West Alabama baseball team is set to travel to No. 11 Columbus State University for a three game series to begin the 2011 campaign. The weekend set in Columbus, Ga. is slated to start with a 3 p.m. CST contest on Friday.

Weather may end up being the story of the weekend, however, as up to three inches of rain is forecast for the Columbus area starting Thursday night and through the day on Friday.

The other two contests are scheduled for 1 p.m. CST on Saturday and noon CST on Sunday.

The Tigers are coming off of a 26-17 season a year ago that saw the squad miss out on postseason play for the first time since the 2003 season. The team will look to rebound as six starters return from last year, and Head Coach Gary Rundles will have four preseason all-Gulf South Conference selections on his squad.

Kevin Deese, Brian Simone, Brian Burgess and Colter Millican all garnered the preseason honors after landing on the All-GSC Team last spring following their strong performances.

Deese led UWA in power last year as he registered eight homers on the season to go along with 14 doubles and three triples, leading to a slugging percentage of nearly .600, while Simone paced the squad with a .362 average at the plate while also scoring a team-best 36 runs.

Burgess set the school record for saves in a career last season as he recorded nine to give him 25 overall. That mark also puts him into a tie for the most in GSC history. Millican put together a 6-3 record as he started 11 contests for the Tigers and compiled a 3.36 ERA.

Rundles has also sprinkled in some talented newcomers including Ladarrius Cole, Jeb Huber, and Barry Meeks.

Cole is a transfer from Itawamba Community College where he hit over. 400 over the span of two seasons while also collecting 36 steals. Meeks comes to UWA after a year at East Central Community College after compiling a 3-1 record while appearing in 17 contests for the Warriors. A product of Delgado Community College, Huber struck out 115 batters during two seasons of work while registering a 16-7 record.

With the Cougars, UWA will find its first test of the season a stiff one. CSU put together a 42-12 record last season en route to winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The team had an impressive 21-game winning streak during the middle of the season, but the Tigers were able to get the best of Columbus State as the Red and White took two of three from CSU early in the season in Livingston.

Columbus State will be led by Ryan Lewis and Thomas Campbell as both were selected to the PBC Preseason All-Conference Team. Lewis hit .357 a year ago while driving in 61 runs, and Campbell compiled a 10-2 mark on the mound while registering 99 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA. 

All three contests are scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN 104.9 and at www.espn1049.com.

Fans can follow the Tigers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UWAathletics) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/UWAathletics). Additionally, fans may also sign up to receive SMS text alerts at www.uwathletics.com.