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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama baseball team will hit the road for the final time in 2011 conference play this weekend as it travels to Florence, Ala., to take on North Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader slated for Saturday.
The Tigers enter the three-game set with an 18-17 (4-10 Gulf South Conference) mark while UNA sits at 31-10 (9-4 GSC). Earlier in the season the two teams split a rain-shortened set in Livingston.
Rebounding from the collapse on Sunday against West Georgia, UWA went on the road Tuesday and pounded Stillman for a 17-1 win, and the squad will look to carry that momentum into the series with the Lions.
Colin McKeen and Brian Simone have been swinging the hottest bats of late for the Tigers as each have registered a .353 average at the plate in UWA's last five contests. Simone has a couple of doubles while driving in seven runs during the stretch, and McKeen has knocked in five and scored five times.
Also impressive was Simone's play in the doubleheader against UNA back at the beginning of March. He picked up four hits – including a homer – and collected four RBI.
Barry Meeks picked up the victory in UWA's 5-2 decision over UNA that weekend as he tossed 3.1 innings of relief in the contest, allowing no runs and just two hits.
The Lions are currently riding a six-game win streak and have won 10 of their last 11 games. During the string of victories, UNA has scored 14 or more runs in five.
Leading the way offensively for this weekend's hosts, Dale Ricketts and JP LaMunyon are hitting .404 and .400, respectively. Jake Sloan has been the biggest producer for the Lions, using his 15 doubles to help him lead the team with 40 RBI. He also has a team-best six home runs.
The Lion pitching staff boasts a 3.52 ERA, and Trey Mitchell paces the team with a 9-2 record and a 2.29 ERA. Mitchell has struck out a team-best 67 batters.
Live stats for the weekend set will be available at www.roarlions.com, and the games can be heard locally on ESPN 104.9 FM.