LIVE STATS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team will open up Gulf South Conference play this weekend when they play host to Valdosta State on Saturday and Sunday at Charger Park.

Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 12 noon, while Sunday's single game will start at 1 p.m.

The 19th-ranked Chargers (14-3) will look to add to their current four-game winning streak, while Valdosta State (8-4) will be playing just their second road game of the season, having won two of their last three. It is expected to be a cold and wet weekend in Huntsville, conditions that this year's team is used to playing in.

“You can't use the weather as an excuse, because both teams have to play in it. We've been playing in poor baseball conditions all season long, this weekend will be no different,” said UAH Head Coach Hunter Royer.

UAH entered the top 20 in four major college baseball polls this past week, while there were national individual honors as well. Conner McCain was named NCBWA National Player of the Week, after the junior hit .588 with 14 RBIs in just five games.

The run-scoring has come quite easy for UAH in 2013, having already scored 186 runs (10.9 runs per game) in only 17 games. There are seven players on the Chargers roster batting .400 or better, with five players having over 20 hits. The team holds a .370 team batting average.

Going unnoticed during the strong season the Chargers are having is the consistent hitting of Vincent Kortbawi. The senior extended his school-record hitting streak to 35 games on Wednesday against Stillman. The streak began April 6 of 2012 and has continued 35 games entering this weekend.

Setting up a perfect fit, Kortbawi will have the opportunity to set the Gulf South Conference record for consecutive games with a hit this weekend against a GSC opponent in Valdosta State. The current record is 37 games, held by Andrew Whittington from Southern Arkansas. Whittington accomplished the feat in 2010.

UAH has compiled a 10-2 record at home already this season and will have the opportunity to add to it this weekend. Valdosta State lost their only true road game at Flagler back on Feb. 6.

The Blazers are currently ranked No. 9 in the latest NCBWA south regional poll, while UAH sits at No. 4. VSU has been led by Nick Rodda with a .375 average and six RBIs, while Jake Montgomery has piled up 15 hits and eight RBIs.

“It will be a tough series. Valdosta (State) has traditionally been a power and it's never easy, regardless of where we play them. Our bats and pitching staff will definitely be tested this weekend, but I believe we are up for the challenge,” said Royer.
Valdosta State holds the all-time record in the series' with a 27-24 advantage.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Chargers on Facebook (facebook.com/uahchargers) and on Twitter (@uahchargers), and supporters of the Blue and White may sign up for text and e-mail updates at uahchargers.com. 

For more information contact Joey Daniels, Sports Information Coordinator, jdd0014@uah.edu

Cover photo by Jay Medeiros, http://www.jcmphoto.com/