LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Softball team is set to make a trip to Valdosta, Georgia this weekend for a three-game GSC series against the Valdosta State Blazers.

Game One and Two of the series is slated for a double header, beginning at 2:00 p.m. CST on Friday. The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday with Game Three set for 11:00 a.m. CST.

No. 22 West Alabama (14-6, 7-2 GSC) makes the trip to Valdosta in midseason form as the Tigers are winners of 10 of their last 12 games. As for Valdosta State (8-11, 4-4 GSC), they enter the weekend after winning two games out of three against Alabama Huntsville.

The reigning GSC Player of the Week, Marissa Mitchell, leads a strong UWA offense into Valdosta. In the Tigers' sweep over Christian Brothers last weekend, Mitchell didn't record a single out, going 4-4 with four Home Runs, six RBIs, and five walks, leading to her first Player of the Week nod of the season. Mitchell is now batting .439 on the year along with five Home Runs and 18 RBIs, leading West Alabama in all three categories. Alongside Mitchell in the top of UWA's order, Taylor Clegg and Ann Marie Stanbridge are both batting over .300 with double digit RBIs while Haley Shannon shines in the leadoff spot, carrying a .327 average into play against the Blazers.

Down in the order, freshman Jessica Rose is getting more and more comfortable at the plate. The Shortstop put together her best weekend at the dish against CBU, registering a .333 average along with three RBIs and two extra base hits.

While the bats have been great, the strength of West Alabama's team has been their pitching staff and defense this season. The Tigers lead the league with a 1.87 ERA with Madison Wright and Eleanor De Block leading the charge. Wright and De Block have recorded seven wins each, with De Block leading the team and the conference with a 1.45 ERA. As for Wright, she sits sixth in the GSC with a 1.83 ERA in 68.2 innings of work which is the fourth most in the league. Defensively, the Tigers rarely make mistakes as they lead the GSC and rank fourth in the country with a .985 field percentage, committed just seven errors through 20 games.

Through 19 games, Valdosta State leads the conference in home runs with 19, averaging one per game. While their offense is dangerous, the Achilles heel for the Blazers has been their pitching. VSU ranks 10th in the GSC with a 4.96 Team ERA which is worrisome for the Blazers with a hot UWA team coming to town.

Offensively, Valdosta State has four players in their lineup with three or more home runs with Aniston Gano serving as the best overall bat in the lineup. Gano, a Senior Infielder, leads the Blazers and ranks second in the league with a .475 batting average along with four home runs and 17 RBIs. Gano enters this weekend's play carrying a nine-game hitting streak, recording multi-hit games in four of those contests. Alongside Gano in VSU's lineup is Saylor McNeary and Kristy Arnold. McNeary leads the team in Home Runs with five and stolen bases with seven while batting .375 on the year. As for Arnold, she's hitting .340 with three Home Runs, creating a dangerous quartet in the middle of the Blazers' lineup.

On the mound, only one player holds an ERA under 4.00. Graduate student Claire Maulding leads the staff with a 3.14 ERA in a team-high 71.1 innings of work. 

If VSU wants to protect their home field this weekend, they will need effective outings from not only Maulding but Madison Lumpp and Savannah Barfield who both carry ERAs well over 5.00.

First pitch for Friday's double header is set for 1:00 p.m. EST while the series finale is slated for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.