LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The No. 6 West Alabama baseball team returns home this weekend for a pivotal Gulf South Conference showdown, hosting Trevecca Nazarene in a three-game series beginning Friday, April 3, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., followed by the finale on Saturday at 12 p.m.
The Tigers enter the weekend at 26-7 overall and 16-5 in GSC play, currently tied for first place in the conference standings alongside the Trojans, who come in at 25-10 overall and 16-5 in league play. With both teams sitting atop the standings, the series carries major implications early in the race for the regular season crown.
West Alabama continues to showcase one of the most balanced offenses in Division II, hitting .308 as a team with 329 hits and 216 RBIs through 33 games. The Tigers are led by
Nick Wilson, who is batting .347 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs, while
Hudson Walburn (.317, 28 RBIs) and
Rashad Robinson (.304, five home runs, 13 stolen bases) provide consistent production at the top of the lineup. Robinson has also been a key table-setter with a team-high .452 on-base percentage.
Depth remains a strength for UWA, with multiple hitters contributing across the lineup.
Wayne Wilkerson (.418),
Layth Holiday (.389), and
Peyton Moss (.375) have all delivered in limited appearances, while
Kyle Blevins and
Hayes Alford continue to provide situational hitting and discipline at the plate.
On the mound, the Tigers boast a 3.41 team ERA and a .238 opponent batting average. The weekend rotation of
Blake Westry (6-0, 2.27 ERA),
Colin Woodham (4-0, 2.70 ERA), and
Baker Green (3-1, 3.15 ERA) has anchored the staff, combining for over 130 innings of work. Westry and Woodham have each made nine starts, while Green has added consistency with 45.2 innings pitched.
Out of the bullpen,
Thomas Kerby (2.17 ERA),
Tyler Pierce (2.38 ERA, three saves), and
Camden Lyke (2.16 ERA, two saves) have provided reliable relief, helping UWA secure late-game situations.
Trevecca Nazarene counters with one of the top offenses in the conference, batting .302 as a team with 39 home runs. Cade Martin leads the Trojans with a .438 average, nine home runs, and a 1.388 OPS, while Cade Moore (.336, 31 RBIs) and Noah Boughton (.350) add depth to a lineup that has produced 265 runs this season.
On the mound, the Trojans hold a 4.91 ERA, led by Logan Harrell (6-1, 3.48 ERA) and Jonah Smithson (4-1, 3.35 ERA). Their bullpen has also been effective, with Ryan Sweeney recording seven saves and a 2.88 ERA.
Defensively, both teams have been strong, with West Alabama posting a .970 fielding percentage compared to Trevecca's .973 mark, setting up a matchup between two fundamentally sound squads.
This weekend also marks a unique milestone in the series' history, as it will be the first true home series for the Tigers against Trevecca Nazarene. Despite playing in Livingston last season due to weather in Nashville, those games were designated as home contests for the Trojans. West Alabama currently leads the all-time series 3-2.
With first place on the line and two of the GSC's top teams set to collide, the Tigers will look to defend their home field and continue their push atop the conference standings.
