LAKELAND, Fla. – The University of West Alabama baseball team begins its postseason journey Thursday evening as the Tigers take on Florida Southern in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST at historic Henley Field in Lakeland, Fla.
West Alabama (32-23) enters as the No. 7 seed and will face the second-seeded Mocs (Florida Southern) in their first meeting since 2017. The Tigers, red-hot down the stretch, have won 13 of their last 15 games and carry momentum into their tenth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
UWA's offense has been sparked by the consistent production of Joe Watkins, who leads the team with a .316 batting average and a staggering 1.044 OPS. The senior has launched 12 home runs, driven in 39 runs, and stolen nine bases while drawing 33 walks and getting hit by 16 pitches.
Blake Vineyard (.313 AVG, 9 HR, 39 RBI) and Nick Wilson (.304 AVG, 34 RBI) have also been key cogs in the lineup, while Jake Goolsby has added pop with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs.
Overall, the Tigers have belted 50 home runs this season and driven in 280 runs, with six regulars posting an OPS over .740.
The West Alabama pitching staff has improved significantly down the stretch, led by ace Bryant Quimby. The junior left-hander owns a team-best 2.71 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 83.0 innings. He's expected to be a go-to arm in the regional.
In the bullpen, Judah Buckner has been dominant, boasting a microscopic 0.42 ERA across 19 appearances with six saves and 31 strikeouts in just 21.1 innings. Gates Pee (3.1 K/BB ratio) provide added depth for late-game situations.
The Tigers' defense has been solid, posting a .963 fielding percentage on the year. Behind the plate, Thomas Watson has been perfect, throwing out nine base stealers without committing an error, but will serve as a backup to starter Tanner Jones.
Florida Southern enters postseason play with momentum, going 6-3-1 over their last 10 contests and boasting one of the most well-rounded rosters in Division II baseball. Ranked 10th nationally, the Mocs have showcased dominant offense, efficient pitching, and aggressive base running all season.
The Mocs feature a deep and dangerous lineup, highlighted by three standout hitters batting over .370: Mikey Scott leads the team with a .376 average and 77 hits, adding eight home runs and 51 RBIs while swiping 49 bags. Noah Rabin (.375 AVG, 1.179 OPS) has been an on-base machine, drawing 41 walks and slugging seven homers in just 136 at-bats. Grant Thoroman sits right behind with a .372 average and team-high 68 RBIs.
The team is hitting .316 overall with a .890 OPS, and they've stolen 219 bases in 258 attempts, making them a constant threat on the basepaths.
On the mound, Florida Southern holds a team ERA of 4.73, backed by strong starting options and reliable bullpen arms: Sachem Ramos anchors the rotation with a 10-2 record, 4.22 ERA, and 86 strikeouts across 91.2 innings. Out of the bullpen, Casey O'Dell (1.42 ERA) and Wyatt Clark (1.52 ERA) have provided stability in late innings.
The Mocs' staff has limited opponents to a .269 average and tallied 337 strikeouts, but walks (208) and hit batters (53) have occasionally created trouble.
Defensively, Florida Southern fields at a high level, committing just 49 errors across 50 games for a .966 team fielding percentage. Their catchers and infielders have turned 39 double plays and controlled the running game effectively.
The winner of Thursday's contest advances in the double-elimination regional and will face the winner of the No. 3 West Florida/No. 6 Delta State matchup. The loser will drop into an elimination game on Friday.
West Alabama will look to channel its late-season magic and punch through a competitive South Region bracket with hopes of reaching its first NCAA Super Regional since 1992.
