LIVINGSTON, Ala. — Top-ranked and top-seeded #11 West Alabama Baseball is set to begin its postseason run as the Tigers face #6 seed Trevecca Nazarene in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Saturday, May 2nd.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. from Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, the same site where the Tigers captured the 2025 GSC Tournament Championship.
West Alabama (34-13, 23-10 GSC) enters the tournament as the 2026 GSC Regular Season Champion, earning the No. 1 seed after one of the most complete seasons in program history. The Tigers have been dominant on both sides of the ball, combining a high-powered offense with one of the nation's top pitching staffs. UWA ranks second nationally in team ERA (3.55) and leads the conference in multiple pitching categories, including WHIP (1.32) and hits allowed per nine innings (8.08).
Leading the charge on the mound is GSC Freshman of the Year
Blake Westry, who has been electric in his debut season. The right-hander holds an 8-1 record with a 2.24 ERA across 64.1 innings, ranking second in the GSC in ERA while also sitting near the top in wins and opposing batting average (.242). He is joined by a deep rotation that includes All-GSC selections
Colin Woodham (2.95 ERA) and
Baker Green (3.67 ERA), giving the Tigers one of the most reliable starting trios in the region.
Out of the bullpen,
Thomas Kerby and
Tyler Pierce have anchored the late innings. Kerby boasts a 1.98 ERA with three saves, while Pierce has been nearly untouchable with a 2.00 ERA and six saves in just 18 innings of work. Their ability to close games has been a key factor in UWA's success throughout the season.
Offensively, the Tigers are hitting .298 as a team with 41 home runs and 280 RBIs, showcasing both power and consistency throughout the lineup. All-GSC First Team selections
Nick Wilson and
Rashad Robinson have been at the center of that production. Wilson is batting .335 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs, while Robinson leads the team with 12 home runs, 53 runs scored, and an impressive 1.083 OPS.
The lineup also features strong contributions from
Hudson Walburn (.299, 41 RBIs),
Kyle Blevins (.262, 27 RBIs), and
Wayne Wilkerson (.366 average), providing depth that has made UWA one of the most balanced offensive teams in the conference.
Trevecca Nazarene (31-20, 19-14 GSC) enters the matchup after surviving a 4-3 single-elimination victory over #7 seed Montevallo earlier in the day. The Trojans bring a potent offense into the contest, hitting .293 as a team with 56 home runs. Cade Martin, an All-GSC First Team selection, leads the way with a staggering .429 batting average, 14 home runs, and a 1.360 OPS, making him one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference.
Supporting Martin is a deep lineup that includes Noah Boughton (.330), Cade Moore (.323), and Rylan Moses (.312), all capable of producing runs in key moments. On the mound, Logan Harrell leads the Trojans with a 3.53 ERA and 83 strikeouts, while Jonah Smithson and Spencer Wilkins provide additional starting depth.
West Alabama took the regular season series against Trevecca Nazarene, winning the first two games 5-4 and 2-1 before dropping the finale 2-0. The Tigers hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series, including key wins this season that could provide a confidence boost heading into postseason play.
With momentum from a championship-caliber regular season and the advantage of elite pitching, West Alabama will look to make another deep run in Oxford. However, a battle-tested Trevecca Nazarene squad coming off a win earlier in the tourney presents an immediate challenge in what promises to be a tightly contested opening-round matchup.
