LIVINGSTON, Ala. – To accommodate expected inclement weather late in the weekend, game times and dates have been shifted for West Alabama's season opening baseball series against Columbus State.
 
The Tigers and the Cougars will still play a single game Friday at Tartt Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Instead of single games on Saturday and Sunday, UWA and CSU will now play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.
 
Saturday's doubleheader will follow the Gulf South Conference format of a nine-inning game to be followed by a seven-inning game 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
 
Sophomore right-hander Cole Waites (5-1, 3.22) is expected to be the starting pitcher for West Alabama on Friday. Newcomers JT Salter and Steffon Moore are projected starters for the Saturday doubleheader. Both will be making their first start for the Tigers.
 
Salter, a right-hander, is a transfer from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, where he posted a two-year career record of 12-3 with a 3.89 ERA, striking out 126 and walking 59 in 104 innings pitched. A lefty, Moore is also a transfer from Itawamba, where he appeared in 23 career games, posting a 9-5 record and striking out 96 in 88.2 innings pitched 
 
West Alabama finished with a 38-21 record last season, finishing second in both the GSC and NCAA South Region Tournaments. Columbus State finished 29-21.
 
UWA is a preseason pick to finish second in the GSC. Columbus State has been picked by Peach Belt Conference coaches to finish fifth in their league.
 
This is the third time in the last five years that the Tigers have opened the season against the Cougars. West Alabama won two-of-three at Tartt Field to open the 2014 season. Columbus State swept the Tigers in a three-game set in Columbus to open the 2015 campaign.