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PENSACOLA, Fla. - The UWF Baseball Team will be at home for their fifth straight series at Jim Spooner Field as they host Gulf South Conference opponent, Mississippi College, on Friday and Saturday at Jim Spooner Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday night while the teams will play a double-header on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

West Florida (8-4) is looking for their third straight series victory at home after taking two of three games against Delta State and Alabama Huntsville during the past two weekends.  In the series against UAH, the Argos got dominant pitching from their starters in the first and third game of the three-game set.

In game one, Ryan Brewer nearly threw a complete game, finishing with 8.2 innings pitched, and allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and one strikeout.  Brewer ended his start by setting down the Chargers in order in the seventh and eighth inning, before getting the first two outs of the ninth with reliever Brendon Case coming on to collect his third save of the season, tied for first in the NCAA.  In game three, starter Evan Floyd was just as efficient as Brewer.  A product of Pensacola Catholic, Floyd threw five scoreless innings, allowing no runs on one hit while walking three and collecting three strikeouts.  Floyd sat down the Chargers in order in three of his five innings, finishing the game with only 58 pitches thrown in those five frames.

Offensively, UWF got contributions from up and down the line-up, as six different players drove in a run during the series.  Outfielder Dylan Menhennett led the way with four RBI's in the three-game set, with three of those coming in game three.  Left Fielder Justin Dunnam also drove in three runs in the final game, adding to his team-high 13 on the year.  Catcher Jack Schad knocked in RBI's two and three on the year after a home-run to deep center-field in game one, while Freshman Jason Roberts collected his first two career RBI's on a two-run single late in game three.

The Mississippi Man: Menhennett, a red-shirt senior from Biloxi, Mississippi, has been on an absolute tear at the plate.  Leading the team with a .370 batting average, Menhennett has eight multi-hit games through 12 contests, which includes his first three-hit game against UAH last Sunday.  Dylan also is first on the team with 17 hits and 23 total bases,and a slugging percentage of .500 while he ranks inside the top 20 of the conference in hits, batting average, total bases and RBI's.

Alabama Run Producers: Cullan O'Shea and Dunnam, natives of Mobile and Saraland, Alabama, have been key to UWF's 75 runs scored this season.  The two products of the Yellowhammer state rank first and third on the squad with 13 and 10 RBI's, respectively.  O'Shea, pacing the team with 11 runs scored, has been a stalwart at first base with 15 total hits, four doubles, one triple and 21 total bases.  The infielder has also drawn a team-high seven walks.  Meanwhile, Dunnam has totaled 13 hits, including four doubles and 17 total bases.  Both players are tied for the team lead with four doubles.

Pitching Is The Name Of Game: UWF has received strong pitching early on this season.  Tied for first in the GSC in team ERA at 3.84, the Argos have been buoyed by a consistent starting staff and late-inning heat from the bullpen.  Brewer, Floyd and Tyler Dowdy have all had big starts on the mound with Case and Josh Pahlad providing key strikeouts late in contests.  Brewer and Floyd both rank in the top ten of the GSC in ERA (2.92 & 1.71), opposing batting average (.212 & .169), innings pitched (24.2 & 21) and wins.

Case and Pahlad have been just as consistent out of the 'pen with both players ranking in the top three of the GSC in saves.  Case, tied for the NCAA lead with three saves, has a 2.35 ERA with two runs allowed on five hits and seven strikeouts in just under eight innings pitched.  Pahlad, meanwhile, is first among UWF relievers in strikeouts with 14, and second in ERA at 3.27 in his five appearances.

Argos In The NCBWA Rankings: With their early season success, West Florida has climbed back into the top 25 of the NCBWA rankings, checking in at the number 21 spot.  Additionally, the Argos moved up one spot in the South Region Rankings, sitting at number four going into this weekend.  Tampa remains in the first spot, followed by GSC rival, Lee, with Barry University at number three.  Valdosta State rounds out the top five in the region.  Lee is currently the highest-ranked GSC team nationally, coming in at seven in the NCBWA poll.  

Attendance Update: University of West Florida athletics is now putting the 25 percent reduced capacity limit for both Jim Spooner Field and the UWF Softball Complex at 800 people. Visiting teams are required to provide a guest pass list. Gates will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch and concessions will be available both days. Tickets are $10 for reserved seating, $7 for general admission, $5 for student/military/senior and free for UWF students and children ages 6 and under. Tailgating in the parking lot is not allowed and trailers or RV's should park in the lower lot. As a reminder, pets are not allowed.

Face coverings and at least six feet of social distancing will be required by spectators and staff at Jim Spooner Field.  All other COVID-19 visitor compliance guidelines must be followed. 

Scouting Mississippi College: MC, (3-6, 0-6 in the GSC), come into the weekend on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Miles College.  The Choctaws are led by coach Jeremy Haworth who is in his sixth season with the team.  Ken Scott leads all qualified batters for MC with a .344 batting average and a 1.088 OPS.  The senior outfielder has six extra-base hits on the year, with three doubles, one triple and two home-runs.  The long ball has been kind to the Choctaws in 2021, as MC has hit 12 as a team, good enough for fifth in the GSC with four different players having at least two round-trippers for the season.

Payton Russell is one to watch on the mound for the Choctaws, as the starter holds a 2.51 ERA over 14.1 innings with nine strikeouts.

Series History: All-time, the Argos are 13-2 against Mississippi College with a perfect 9-0 record when the teams have met in Pensacola, Florida.  The teams last met in 2019, as UWF swept MC at Jim Spooner Field with the Argonauts scoring at least five runs in each contest.

For the latest on the UWF Baseball Team, please visit GoArgos.com or follow the team on Twitter @UWF_Baseball.