UWA Baseball Preview Versus #17 Mississippi College

Who
West Alabama and 17^th-ranked Mississippi College in a three-game Gulf South Conference series.

What and When
Single game Friday at 6 p.m. canceled. Doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m.

Where
Tartt Field on the campus of the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Ala.

Live Stats
Links for each game can be found HERE.

Radio
All three games are set to be carried on ESPN 104.9, the Twin States Sports Authority. Tiger fans outside the coverage area can go to www.grantellbroadcasting.com and click on Listen Live to hear the game. Also try the ESPN1049 App, available at your App Store for free.

Live Video
A free live video feed for each game can be found HERE.

Naheola Credit Union Day
Saturday is Naheola Credit Union Day at Tartt Field. Naheola Credit Union CEO Mark Johnson, accompanied several local little league players, is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt with the kid who finds the Golden Egg winning a prize from NCU. There will be additional children's activities and a raffle for a $50 gift card. Stop by the outfield decks to find out about everything that NCU has going on.

West Alabama
West Alabama is 22-15 overall, 9-13 in GSC play. The Tigers are currently 10^th in the GSC standings.

Mississippi College
Mississippi College is 25-13 overall, 15-5 in league play. The Choctaws are one of three teams already locked into the GSC Tournament that begins May 3 in Oxford, Alabama. Delta State and West Florida have also clinched berths.

Senior Day
Saturday will be Naheola Credit Union Senior Day at Tartt Field. Ten Tigers will be suiting up for the final time at Tartt Field for the doubleheader. This senior class has won 117 games over the last four years, 66 of those in GSC play.

The Seniors and Those Joining Them For On-Field Recognition
Ceremonies to honor the seniors will get underway at 12:40 p.m., with the players, along with family and friends, will receive their awards and be recognized. Following are those seniors and those joining them on the field.

2B       Ryan Hughes
Eve Hughes (Wife), Grayson (Son Still Incubating), Nicole Hughes (Mom), Jason Hughes (Dad), Darlene Hughes (Step Mother), Megan Summerlin (Sister), Brandon Summerlin (Brother-In-Law), Isaac and Jaxon Summerlin (Nephews)

RHP    Corey Kelley
Jody Kelley (Dad), Tammy Kelley (Mom), Michelle Kelley (Sister)

SS       Trevor Smeeton
Scott Smeeton (Dad), Rhonda Smeeton (Mom)

RHP    Micah McGaha
Danielle Deir (Mom), Tommy McGaha (Dad), Mollie Maloy (Girlfriend)

LHP     JD Brown
Renee Brown (Mom), Russell Brown (Dad)

LHP     Nathan Nicolosi
Michelle Nicolosi (Mom), Joe Nicolosi (Dad)

RHP    Nick Rathke
Chuck Rathke (Dad), Jennifer Rathke (Mom), Justin Rathke (Brother), Melanie Rathke (Sister-In-Law), Peyton and Harper Rathke (Niece)

3B       Ben Dalke
Russ Dalke (Dad), Mary Dalke (Mom)

OF       Jake Hartman
Kim Hill (Mom), Tyler Kilgore (Brother)

OF       Chris Simon
Cindy Simon (Mom), Keith Simon (Dad), John Castillo (Grandpa), Pam Castillo (Grandma)

The Series
Saturday's first game will be 86^th in the series between the Tigers and the Choctaws. UWA holds a 61-24 advantage and has won 30 of 40 games in the series that have been played in Livingston.

UWA Coach Gary Rundles
Gary Rundles is 620-378 in his 20^th year at West Alabama, 992-655 in his 32^nd year as a college head coach.

Countdown to Rundles 1K Career College Wins
Tiger head coach Gary Rundles needs eight (8) victories for career win number 1,000. The Tigers have eight regular season games left.

Mississippi College Coach Jeremy Haworth
MC head coach Jeremy Haworth is 98-88 in his fourth season at Mississippi College, 199-181-1 in his eighth year as a collegiate head coach.

Waites GSC K Leader
Tiger righthander Cole Waites leads the GSC in strikeouts going into the weekend with 100 in 60.2 innings pitched. He also leads the league in bases on balls issued (45) and hit batters (15).

Waites 19 Short of School Season Record for Strikeouts
Cole Waites comes into the series against MC needing just 19 strikeouts to set the West Alabama program record for strikeouts in a season. JT Salter struck out 118 last season. Cole Waites already holds the UWA career record for strikeouts with 264.

Rathke Maintains League Lead in Saves
Despite not making an appearance at Delta State last week, Tiger closer Nick Rathke still leads the GSC in saves with six. He is also 4-0.

Tiger Streaks
Longest Hitting Streak: 10, Taylor Clemmons
Longest Current Hitting Streak: 6, Ben Dalke
Longest Reached Base Streak: 24, Trevor Smeeton
Longest Current Reached Base Streak: 8, RJ Brown, Chris Simon
Most Multi-Hit Games: 17, Trevor Smeeton
Most Multi-RBI Games: 8, Gavin Rogers, Taylor Clemmons

Tiger Batting Leaders (Min. 2 plate appearances per game & played in 75% of team games)
Batting Average: .347, Gavin Rogers
Hits: 50, Trevor Smeeton
RBI: 34, Taylor Clemmons
Runs: 29, Trevor Smeeton
Doubles: 9, Taylor Clemmons
Triples: 2, Trevor Smeeton
Home Runs: 7, Jake Hartman
Bases on Balls: 23, Taylor Clemmons
Strikeouts: 34, Wyatt Ball
Stolen Bases: 11, RJ Brown

Tiger Pitching Leaders
Appearances: 15, Nick Rathke
Starts: 11, Cole Waites
Wins: 4, Nick Rathke and Peyton Warren
Saves: 6, Nick Rathke
Innings Pitched: 60.2, Cole Waites
Strikeouts: 100, Cole Waites
Starters ERA: 3.71, Cole Waites
Relievers ERA: 2.45, Nathan Nicolosi

Facing the Workhorse
West Alabama will face the league leader in innings pitched in Chris Crosby, likely in the series opener Friday night. A right-hander, Crosby has thrown 74 innings and has a 3.89 ERA.

Other Choctaws to Watch
First baseman Blaine Crim leads the GSC in doubles with 17 and second baseman Grant Barber is tied for the league lead in sacrifice bunts with eight. Outfielder Chauncey Callier's 39 strikeouts as a hitter is also tied for the league lead.

Up Next
West Alabama travels to Young Harris (Georgia) for a Tuesday doubleheader before going to West Florida to end the regular season with a three-game series Friday and Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

#13 JT Salter: RHP; 6' 8"; Junior; R/R

#12 JD Brown: LHP; 6' 3"; Senior; L/L

#30 Ben Dalke: 3B/RHP; 6' 4"; Senior; R/R

#20 Jake Hartman: OF/C; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#4 Ryan Hughes: 2B/3B; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#14 Corey Kelley: RHP; 6' 4"; Senior; R/R

#23 Micah McGaha: RHP; 6' 4"; Senior; R/R

#38 Nathan Nicolosi: LHP; 6' 0"; Senior; L/L

#10 Nick Rathke: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#36 Gavin Rogers: 1B/RHP; 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#13 JT Salter
: 6' 8"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#12 JD Brown
: 6' 3"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#30 Ben Dalke
: 6' 4"; Senior; R/R
: 3B/RHP

#20 Jake Hartman
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: OF/C

#4 Ryan Hughes
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: 2B/3B

#14 Corey Kelley
: 6' 4"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#23 Micah McGaha
: 6' 4"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#38 Nathan Nicolosi
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#10 Nick Rathke
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#36 Gavin Rogers
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: 1B/RHP