LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The No. 5 University of West Alabama baseball team returns home for another pivotal Gulf South Conference series this weekend, hosting No. 17 West Florida in a three-game set at Tartt Field. The series begins Friday, April 10 at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader set for 1 and 4 p.m.
The Tigers enter the weekend at 29-8 overall and sit atop the GSC standings with an 18-6 conference mark, while the Argonauts come in at 29-9 overall and 16-8 in league play, currently third in the standings.
West Alabama continues to be one of the most complete teams in Division II, combining a potent offense with elite pitching. The Tigers are hitting .303 as a team with 362 hits and 236 RBIs through 37 games.
Layth Holiday has been a key spark offensively, leading the team with a .393 batting average, while
Nick Wilson (.353, 7 HR, 35 RBI) and
Rashad Robinson (.310, 7 HR, 42 runs scored) continue to anchor the middle of the lineup.
Hudson Walburn has also been productive, batting .313 with 32 RBIs and a .404 on-base percentage.
The depth of the Tigers' lineup has been a major factor this season, with multiple players hitting above .300, including
Wayne Wilkerson (.390),
Peyton Moss (.375), and
Austin Thacker (.341). West Alabama has also shown aggressiveness on the basepaths, totaling 58 stolen bases on the year.
On the mound, UWA boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the nation. The Tigers hold a 3.41 team ERA and have limited opponents to a .236 batting average.
Blake Westry (6-1, 2.42 ERA) and
Colin Woodham (5-0, 2.54 ERA) have led the starting rotation, while
Baker Green has added stability with a 3.48 ERA across 10 starts.
Out of the bullpen, the Tigers have been equally effective.
Tyler Pierce (2.08 ERA, 4 saves) and
Thomas Kerby (1.97 ERA) have been reliable late-inning options, while
Camden Lyke has impressed with a 1.93 ERA and 14 strikeouts in just over nine innings of work.
West Florida enters the weekend with an offense hitting .298 as a team, led by Zack Stokes, who is batting .409 with 12 home runs and a 1.284 OPS. William Lybrook (.402) and Trent Kelly (.331) also provide consistency at the plate, while Gustavo Mendez has driven in 33 runs this season.
On the pitching side, the Argonauts carry a 3.72 team ERA, with Colton Dorsey (3.09 ERA) and Tucker Ricks (5-2, 3.74 ERA) leading the rotation. Out of the bullpen, Micky Scheetz has been dominant with a 1.17 ERA and eight saves.
Historically, West Florida has held the edge in the series, leading 72-40 overall. The Argonauts have also found success in Livingston, posting a 16-9 record in their last 25 trips. However, the Tigers picked up a 7-6 win in the most recent meeting during the 2025 season in the GSC Tournament.
With both teams ranked inside the top 20 and positioned near the top of the GSC standings, this weekend's series carries significant postseason implications. A strong showing for West Alabama would further solidify its place as a conference frontrunner and national contender as the regular season enters its final stretch.
