PENSACOLA, Fla. --- The University of West Florida baseball team prepares for an action-packed week of games at Jim Spooner Field.
 
UWF will kick off the week with a non-conference two-game series against North Georgia on Tuesday, March 14 at 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. The Argos will continue GSC play with Mississippi College in a three-game series on Friday, March 17 at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
 
Recap Versus Alabama-Huntsville
UWF (11-8 overall, 3-6 GSC) was unable to earn a win in the conference three-game series over the weekend against the Chargers. The first two games were a one-run difference.
 
The Argos lost Friday night's game, 10-9 (March 10). The team was down 9-3 and made a six-run comeback in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Chargers won off a walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth. Dean Hotz had a season high of three hits and two RBI. 
 
The Argos had a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. The Chargers scored the next five straight runs to take the game 5-4 and secure the series win. Darrien McDowell went 4-5 and finished with three RBI. 
 
In the final game, the Argos fell short 7-4.
 
Scouting the North Georgia Nighthawks
The Nighthawks (11-10 overall, 5-7 GSC) are currently ranked No. 8 in the Peach Belt Conference Standings. They sit at a .417 conference percentage.
 
Over the weekend, the Nighthawks took on No. 6 Columbus State and lost the series 2-1. They were shutout the first game 10-0, won game two, 3-2 but was defeated, 15-4, in game three.
 
The Nighthawks have won three three-game series and two single games so far this season.
 
North Georgia is led by freshman Jace Bowen. The infielder is hitting a .424 average in 21 consecutive starts. He has tallied 36 hits, six doubles and a triple. He has been walked 15 times in 85 at bats.
 
Freshman Opata Andrews is securing his spot in the outfield. He leads the team with 73 putouts. He has scored 23 runs and hits apiece and has a .274 average. In 14 attempts, he has recorded 12 stolen bases – most on the team.
 
Pitcher Matthew Heard is 4-1 on the season and has an ERA of 1.82. He has allowed 10 runs on 25 hits in seven game appearances and six starts.
 
Argo vs. Nighthawks History
In the last 10 matchups, the Argos are 3-7. Since 2006, UWF is 9-9 on their home field.
 
The Argos took on the Nighthawks twice in the 2022 season and split 1-1. UWF lost the first game 7-6 in 11 innings and won the next game 8-6. Jacob Estes was awarded the win in the final 2.0 innings pitched. He recorded three strikeouts in six at bats. Trent Jeffcoat tallied for two hits in each game.

Scouting the Mississippi College Choctaws
The Choctaws (7-15 overall, 3-6 GSC) have a similar .333 conference percentage and sits right below UWF in the GSC standings.
 
Mississippi College has a tough schedule as they have faced the top two teams in the nation, North Greenville and Tampa, in a three-game series. They lost both series' – 3-0 to North Greenville (Feb. 10-11) and 2-1 to Tampa (March 3-5). They also recently played the previously ranked No. 3 Southern Arkansas in a single game that was finished in a 16-3 win (Feb. 28).
 
The Choctaws are coming off a 2-1 series loss to West Alabama over the weekend. They lost the series opener, 4-9 (March 10). The next day, the teams split in a doubleheader (March 11). Game one was a 3-7 loss followed by a 6-5 win.
 
Sophomore JT Vance has a .358 batting average to lead the team. He has recorded 24 hits, four doubles, a triple and five homers. He has also scored 18 runs and has earned 17 RBI.
 
The junior out of Louisiana, Caleb Reese, leads the way with 25 hits. He has also achieved two doubles and nine homeruns for a hitting average of .321.
 
Argo vs. Choctaws History
Since 2015, the Argos have a successful 16-2 overall record over the Choctaws and are undefeated at Jim Spooner Field.
 
The last loss came in 2018.
 
The most recent meeting of the teams was in a three-game series in 2021. UWF scored a combined 27 runs while holding the Choctaws to five throughout the contest.