LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The No. 5-ranked West Alabama baseball will hit the road Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference matchup against the Montevallo Falcons at 3 p.m. in Montevallo.
The meeting comes just days after the two teams battled in a three-game Gulf South Conference series over the weekend in Livingston, where the Tigers claimed the series victory 2-1. West Alabama enters the midweek contest with a 21-4 overall record and a 12-3 mark in conference play, while Montevallo sits at 9-17 overall and 4-11 in league action.
High-Powered Tiger Offense
West Alabama has been one of the most productive offensive teams in the conference, hitting .316 as a team with 256 hits, 197 runs scored, and 19 home runs through the first 25 games of the season. The Tigers also boast a strong .436 on-base percentage and .454 slugging percentage.
Leading the offensive charge is senior infielder
Nick Wilson, who is hitting .375 with six home runs and a team-leading 29 RBIs. Outfielder
Wayne Wilkerson has been another key contributor, batting .407 with 22 hits and an OPS of 1.085, while outfielder
Rashad Robinson has provided both power and speed with a .337 average, four home runs, and 10 stolen bases.
Hudson Walburn continues to be a catalyst near the top of the lineup, hitting .337 with 23 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Several other Tigers have provided depth throughout the order, including
Kyle Blevins,
Aaron Wallace, and
Will Wood, helping West Alabama maintain consistent offensive production.
Strong Pitching Staff
The Tigers' success has also been fueled by a dominant pitching staff that carries a 3.10 team ERA and has struck out 184 batters across 209 innings this season.
Leading the rotation are
Blake Westry (4-0, 1.64 ERA) and
Baker Green (3-0, 2.48 ERA), both of whom have been key weekend starters for West Alabama.
Colin Woodham has also been effective with a 2.67 ERA across seven starts.
In midweek contests, the Tigers have leaned on several arms including
Beau Bryant, who owns a 0.00 ERA in limited action, and
Luke Clanahan, who has made multiple midweek starts this season.
Out of the bullpen, West Alabama has several reliable options including
Tyler Pierce, who is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in nine innings, and closer
Camden Lyke, who has recorded two saves without allowing an earned run.
Scouting Montevallo
Montevallo enters Tuesday's game hitting .262 as a team with 21 home runs. The Falcons are led offensively by Jack Fitzgerald, who is batting .326 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs. Ian Cartwright (.314) and Caleb Karll (.300) have also been consistent contributors in the lineup.
On the mound, the Falcons carry a 5.43 team ERA with 201 strikeouts in 217 innings pitched. Luke Holbrook has been one of Montevallo's top arms this season with a 2.53 ERA in eight appearances, while Zach Wyatt leads the team in strikeouts with 43.
Tuesday's game provides the Tigers another opportunity to continue their strong start to the season while preparing for the next weekend of conference play. First pitch between West Alabama and Montevallo is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Montevallo.
