No. 14 Nova Southeastern (0-3, 0-0 SSC) vs. UAH (0-0, 0-0 GSC)
Feb. 5-6 | 12 p.m. | Live Stats
Charger Park LOOKING BACK: The Chargers had another remarkable season under the tutelage of sixth-year head coach
Hunter Royer, going 36-11-1 overall and 21-9-1 in GSC play in 2015. UAH received numerous accolades for its performance during the season, including All-American honors for departed seniors
Chandler Brock and
Colton Simbeck.
Daniel Koger also became the program's 10th-ever MLB draftee, going in the 19th round to the Colorado Rockies.
COACHES' POLL: The Chargers were predicted to finish fourth in the GSC this season and also received one first-place tally in the prognostication. Newcomers
Gabe Gunter and
Wright Hackett earned nods for the list of top newcomers to the league.
TOP RETURNER: Redshirt sophomore
AJ Walden headlines the returning position players after earning GSC Freshman of the Year for batting .333 with 10 homers, 13 doubles and 48 RBI last season. As the Blue and White's primary catcher, Walden backstopped six of the Chargers seven shutouts in 2015.
ON THE BUMP: Senior
Chris Kilpatrick returns to the starting rotation this season, following a 2015 campaign that saw the right-hander post a 2-1 record with a 3.83 ERA over 44.2 innings pitched. Kilpatrick closed out the season in long-relief, which included a perfect 4.0 innings out of the bullpen with five strikeouts in the GSC tournament against West Georgia (5/3).
ABOUT THE SHARKS: Prior to the start of the season, Nova Southeastern received national recognition as the squad was ranked in all four national polls, but the Sharks have started the season on a three-game skid after falling in consecutive contests to Tusculum, Newberry and No. 2 Catawba over the weekend. NSU batted a collective .208 during the three games, while the pitching staff accrued a 6.67 ERA, led by Alex Mateo with a 5.0-inning, two earned run start vs. Catawba.
MATCHUP HISTORY: Friday's opener will mark the second time these two programs have ever matched up, with UAH holding a 1-0 all-time record against NSU. This will also be the Chargers first SSC opponent since the 2014 NCAA South Regional, when UAH played Lynn, Florida Southern and Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
