Pensacola, Fla. --- The University of West Florida baseball team will open their 2023 campaign this weekend when they take on the Florida Southern Mocs in Lakeland, Fla. The matchup will be a three-game series beginning Saturday afternoon.
 
The Argos open the season against the Mocs for the second year in a row. Contests will begin Feb. 4 with a double header at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET followed by the final game on Feb. 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET. All games will take place at Henley Field.
 
About the Argonauts
UWF went 22-24 and finished seventh in the Gulf South Conference at 15-13. The Argos return eight starters and have added 12 transfers to the group.
 
Since beginning in the 2005-2006 as a head coach for UWF, this was only Mike Jeffcoat's second season with a losing record. With the new additions and many returning starters, the team looks to bounce back and begin on a win streak.
 
The Backstop
Entering his senior year, Josh Prizina is slated to be behind the plate. He has his best season with the Argos last year since begnning his collegiate career in 2018. Prizina had 39 appearances and made 32 starts to have a .234 batting average. The Sparks, Nev. Native had 111 at bats with eight doubles, seven homeruns and earned 22 RBI. 
 
Entering the Infield
The juniors come back to their spots in the infield with third baseman Preston Moore and shortstop Trent Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat was one of two players last season who started in all 46 games – Moore had 41 starts in 43 games played.
 
Jeffcoat had an exceptional season in his first year with the Argonauts in 2022 and was named All-GSC Second Team. He batted .371 with 66 hits, seven doubles and 24 RBI and has been placed on the All-GSC Preseason Team for this season.
 
New addition is sophomore Jackson Grabsky and he will be a player to watch. The Orlando, Fla. native will be stepping into the second baseman role to join Jeffcoat and Moore in the infield.
 
Experience in the Outfield
Last season consisted of Jadon Fryman in left field, Mark Townsend in center field and Chris Johnson in right field who all look to return this season. This group made many starts last year and looking to lead the way again.
 
Dean Hotz was a big-time player his freshman year making 24 starts and 33 game appearances and looks to get some action in the outfield.
 
On the Mound
Three new right-handed pitchers will be this weekend's rotation against the Mocs. UWF will send out Dalton Neuschwander to the mound on opening day. The sophomore out of Spanish Fort, Ala. will get his first action in a UWF uniform. The transfer from Coastal Alabama South had 15 appearances with nine starts. He went 4-2 with two saves and a 5.84 ERA over 37 innings pitched.
 
Coming from Polk State, Kade Manderscheid will start game two on Saturday. The Riverview, Fla. native had 19 appearances last year and ended 5-3. In 44 innings pitched, he had 49 strikeouts and had a 3.27 ERA.
 
For Sunday's match to finish off the weekend, Major Posey out of Tallahassee, Fla. will step on the mound. He began his career at UCF then played at Polk State last year. With them, he went 5-5 in 16 appearances and 12 starts. He ended the season with 56 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched.
 
GSC Newcomer Watchlist
Three sophomores join the program and have been recognized on the GSC Newcomer Watchlist. Infielders Grabsky and Jacob Bailey alongside pitcher Jacob Heath, look to rep the Argo blue and green this season.
 
Preseason Poll
Announced Jan. 26, the Argos were selected sixth in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. They received one first place vote and tallied a total of 96 polling points. Delta State (130), Lee (127) and Montevallo (122) took the top three slots in the preseason poll. They also are receiving votes in the Preseason Collegiate Baseball Poll that is currently consisted of the top-40 teams and will dwindle down to 30 teams during the regular season.
 
Scouting the Mocs
The Mocs checked in at No. 37 in the Preseason Collegiate Baseball Poll to start off the 2023 season. The poll, voted on by the coaches of each of the eight NCAA Division II regions, features 40 teams during the preseason poll and necks down to 30 during the regular season. The team finished with a 29-21 record last season and went 20-10 in the Sunshine State Conference. In the SSC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Mocs were selected to finish fifth among the 11 conference opponents.
 
Graduate student Nathan Madej returns for the Mocs as was named to the Preseason All-South First Team as a starting pitcher alongside junior Jeff Liquori at first base. Madej went 7-1 on the mound with a 3.05 ERA as Liquori finished out the season with a .316 batting average and 34 RBI. Starting pitcher Aric McAtee made 14 starts and had a 7-2 record in 2022. With 62 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA in his team-high 79.0 innings pitched, McAtee was named Preseason All-South Region Honorable Mention.
 
Argo vs. Mocs History
The teams opened their seasons against each other in 2022 with the Argos taking the three-game series 2-1. Despite losing game 1, the Argos bounced back 5-3 in game 2 and closed out the following day in a 6-1 win.
 
On Deck
The Argos will return to Jim Spooner Field for their home opener and take on Rollins in a three-game series beginning Feb 10. Frist pitch is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m., 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
 
Tailgating starts at 2:30 and ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors ages 65 and older and military. Children under 12 and UWF students with a valid Nautilus card are free.