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CARROLLTON, Ga. –  Winners of three in a row, the University of West Florida baseball team plays West Georgia this weekend for a three-game Gulf South Conference series. UWF and UWG begin the series with a newly-implemented start time of 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Argos and Wolves will play a Sunday doubleheader beginning tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET
 
 
WE BEAT EMBRY-RIDDLE TWICE
- UWF went into its midweek series with Embry-Riddle having never beat the Eagles in its three previous meetings, but the Argonauts swept the midweek two-game set defeating Embry Ridde 9-5 and 12-6 to improve to 13-10 on the year. 
- The ERAU pitching staff was tagged for a 7.00 ERA over the course of two games. The Eagles' pitching staff did not get much help from its defense, with ERAU committing nine errors for a .894 fielding percentage in the series. 
- Brandon Harmon was the offensive cataylst for the Argos in the series, going 5-for-7 (.714) with a home run and three RBI. 
- Chase Kiefer led the team with five RBI in a 3-for-8 showing over the series. Kiefer also recorded his 69th and 70th career stolen bases in the series, putting him just seven shy of the UWF program record.
- Jared Middleton (3.1 IP), Brian Browning (2.0 IP) and JT Granat (2.0 IP) all turned in scoreless performances. Middleton earned his second win of the season on Tuesday, while Browning's two innings of hitless relief helped set up JT Granat for his first career save in his first-ever relief appearance on Wednesday. 
 
TRACE PENTON NAMED GSC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
- Trace Penton turned in a team season-high eight innings pitched in a 6-1 setback on Saturday against UAH, allowing no runs on just two hits. Penton arrived in the game with two runners on base and no outs in the second inning, and needed just three pitches to get out of the inning. 
- Penton needed just 73 pitches over the course of his eight-inning performance. 
- The Cantonment native owns a team-best 1.02 ERA and has not allowed a run since his collegiate debut on Feb. 4 against Florida Southern. He currently rides a streak of 15 innings without allowing a run. 
- Penton is expected to make his first collegiate start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. 
 
NEW LOOK TO THE ROTATION
- This weekend's starting rotation features a new look, and includes Jarrod Petree, Trace Penton and Jared Gonzalez, who all started the 2017 season in the bullpen.
- All three starters have had a very strong 2017 so far and the three have combined for a 5-1 record, 2.56 ERA and .217 opponent batting average. 
- The trio also owns a 2.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is averaging just 1.2 extra base hits allowed per nine innings pitched.
 
RECENT HISTORY VS. WEST GEORGIA
- UWF won the regular season series against UWG last year, but fell to the Wolves in both the GSC Tournament and NCAA South Regional last season. 
- Jarrod Petree owns a 1.08 lifetime ERA vs. West Georgia and has allowed just five hits over three career appearances and 8.1 IP. 
- Michael Savas hit .400 with a HR and 3 RBI against UWG last season to lead returning players. 
 
OUR BULLPEN IS VERY GOOD
- With a 2.18 ERA in conference play this season and a 2.17 ERA in the team's last 10 games, the bullpen has proven to be a major strength for UWF as the team approaches the midpoint of the season.
- Five different players have recorded a save for the Argos this season, making it the first time since the 2013 season that has happened. 
- UWF's bullpen owns a 3.36 ERA on the season and the UWF bats have tagged opposing relievers for a 6.40 ERA this year.
- On the season, UWF owns a 2.73 ERA as a team in innings 6-9. 
 
AWAY FROM THE SPOON
- Although having a strong tradition of being a team that plays well at home, UWF has thrived on the road each of the past two seasons. UWF takes a 7-3 road record and a four-game road winning streak into West Georgia this weekend.
- Nick Kerkmann leads the team with a .412 average in road games this year. He is closely followed by Chase Kiefer (.400), Brandon Harmon (.382) and Nic Strasser (.349).
- Justin Ambrosino leads the team with 17 RBI in road games this year. Other palyers with double digit RBI totals in road games this year include Chase Kiefer (12) and Brandon Harmon (10).
 
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
- UWF has dominated its midweek opponents this year, owning a perfect 5-0 record after sweeping Embry-Riddle earlier this week. 
- The Argos are hitting .311 as a team while holding its opponents to a .236 average. The UWF pitching staff has also thrived, owning a 2.80 ERA in comparison to its opponents' 7.77. 
- Brandon Harmon leads the team with a .412 (7-for-17) average in midweeks this year. 
- Justin Ambrosino's .720 slugging percentage, three home runs and 10 RBI all lead the team in midweek contests this year. 
- Other notable midweek offensive standouts include Chase Kiefer (.381 & 8 RBI) and Robert Lopez (.353).
- Brian Browning owns a 0.00 ERA over his four midweek appearances totaling 6.2 innings pitched. 
- Jared Middleton is 2-0 in midweek action this year and has a strong 0.87 ERA. 
 
PETREE'S SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO THE ROTATION
- Jarrod Petree made his first start in 680 days on March 4 against North Alabama and posted his second career complete game, pitching 7 innings against the Lions to lead UWF to a 4-3 win over North Alabama. 
- Petree is 3-1 on the year and 14-3 in his UWF career. His .824 winning percentage and his career 2.52 ERA are both fifth best in the UWF record book. 
- Among the conference, Petree ranks sixth in ERA (2.37), fourth in opponent batting average (.189) and fifth in wins (3). Among pitchers qualified for the GSC statistical leaders, Petree's eight runs allowed is the lowest in the conference. 
 
NINE SPOT SUCCESS
- Ironically enough, UWF has seen the most offensive production from its No. 9 spot in the order this year. UWF No. 9 hitters are hitting a combined .368, which is .039 points higher than any other spot in the lineup. 
- A key to some of the Argos' offensive success has come from the .488 on base percentage coming from the UWF No. 9 hitters. The spot also has six stolen bases this year -- the second most after the leadoff spot's total of 12. 
 
LOOKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK
- After having dropped three consecutive GSC series, it is just the first time since April 26, 2009 that the team has lost three consecutive GSC series. 
- UWF's streak of 13 consecutive conference series wins came to a close on Feb. 25 at Valdosta State. It was the longest streak in the conference since 2011. 
- UWF won 13 consecutive GSC series prior to last weekend and posted an outstanding 29-7 record against conference foes during that stretch.
- The Argos won all 11 of their GSC series last season, becoming the first team since Delta State in 2012 to accomplish that feat. The Argos took home its first-ever GSC Regular Season Championship last season
- Against North Alabama, UWF had its eight home conference series winning streak snapped with the Lions taking 2-of-3. UWF also had its streak of four consecutive series wins against the Lions dating back to 2013 snapped. 
 
#400
- After UWF's 12-8 comeback victory against Valdosta State on Feb 26., head coach Mike Jeffcoat became the ninth coach in GSC history to earn his 400th win.
- Jeffcoat entered 2017 as the 19th winningest active Division II coach with a .654 winning percentage.
- His .654 winning percentage is also 40th best all-time in Division II. Jeffcoat owns the 26th best winning percentage among coaches in DII history with at least 400 wins.
- A four-time GSC Coach of the Year, Jeffcoat became the third active GSC coach to have 400 wins under his belt -- joining West Alabama's Gary Rundles (546 wins) and Delta State's Mike Kinnison (859 wins).
 
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