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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Seeking to improve upon its NCAA South Regional status, the 23rd-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team will take to AT&T Field this weekend, as the 2013 Taziki's Gulf South Conference Tournament starts on Thursday.

The Chargers (33-13-1, 16-6-1 GSC) are just 5-5 in their last 10 games, but with the postseason on tap, there's no better time for the team to build up momentum. UAH was ranked No. 3 in the first edition of the official NCAA South Region rankings released last Wednesday, but may fall this week because of their 1-2 weekend at Shorter.

West Georgia (24-22, 12-12 GSC) will be the first hurdle for UAH at 1 p.m. EST on Thursday, as the Chargers are looking to make it back to the GSC Tournament Championship game. The team fell to Delta State in last year's final and has only won the tournament once back in 2001.

The double-elimination style tournament may fit UAH well, as they boast one of the better pitching staffs in the conference and the league's highest-scoring offense. Andrew Busby, who was named All-GSC First-Team on Tuesday, will serve as the ace while Alex Aultman and Dana Wright will look to continue their recent success.

Aultman and Wright have combined to allow just four earned runs in their last 30.1 innings of work, including back-to-back complete game victories for Aultman. Wright was the tough-luck loser at Shorter this past weekend, as the senior surrendered just one earned run as his team lost 1-0.

The offensive numbers that UAH was putting up to start the season that carried them all the way to a No. 4 national ranking have seemed to fall off though. Somehow they have managed just 2.6 runs per game in their last nine, but still own an average of over 7.0 runs per game this season.

The pitching has been lights out, but the bats have gone silent. Should the team put its late-season pitching up with its early-season hitting, this team can take home the GSC Tournament crown and automatic bid to the NCAA Regional.

It won't be easy though for the seven players recognized as All-GSC, including GSC Player of the Year Chandler Brock, but the Chargers are biting at the bit.

“We're just ready to get back to the brand of baseball we've been used to playing,” said Royer. “Our pitching has been dominant and we just can't seem to hit the ball. Hopefully our guys realize what's at stake here and we put together a complete tournament.”

The 7th-seeded Wolves had their way with the Chargers this season, taking both meetings in Carrollton 3-2 and 3-0. A familiar face will most likely be on the mound, as Jamie Sexton will be the opposing pitcher in game one. Sexton allowed just three hits in 8.0 innings of work back on Apr. 12, picking up the win and shutting UAH out for just the second time all season.

“Mentally, we have to forget about that game and figure it out. Sexton is a great pitcher and it won't be easy. We need to find a way to get on base,” said Royer.

UAH will play either No. 6 West Alabama or No. 3 West Florida in the next round at either 10 a.m. EST or 1 p.m. EST.

To visit GSC Tournament home page click here.

Be sure to follow UAH Baseball live at the GSC Tournament with our live blog.

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