PENSACOLA, Fla. --- The University of West Florida baseball team opens the 2024 season at Jim Spooner Field in a non-conference matchup against Florida Southern. #11 Argos and Mocs will play a three-game, three-day series beginning on Friday, Feb. 2 at 5:00 p.m.
 
Game two will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. First pitch of game three is set for Sunday, Feb. 4 at Noon.
 
The program will recognize the 2023 GSC Regular Season and Tournament Champions in a ring ceremony on Friday, Feb. 2 before the game.
 
Tickets are $7 for general admission, $10 for chair backs and $5 for military and seniors. Free admission for students that provide a valid nautilus ID.
 
UWF will host Bingo during Friday's contest, Fan Giveaway on Saturday and complete with Sunday Funday to end the series.
 
About UWF

• Mike Jeffcoat enters his 19^th season as head coach with UWF.
• Jeffcoat led the team as GSC Champions and was awarded the GSC Coach of the Year in 2023. Additionally, he gained his second career NCBWA South Region Coach of the Year honor.
• The Argos sit at No. 11 in the NCBWA national rankings, No. 15 in the Collegiate baseball newspaper poll, and tabbed the one spot in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• This is the fifth time UWF topped the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll since 2014 and the third time in the last four seasons.
• UWF set a league-high of six Preseason All-GSC selections: Trent Jeffcoat, Darrien McDowell, Kade Manderscheid, Dalton Neuschwander, Major Posey and Mike Scordo.
• Neuschwander and Scordo were named NCBWA Preseason All-South Region First Team.
• Neuschwander was named NCBWA Preseason All-America First Team.
• UWF joins eight transfers and seven freshmen to the squad.

 
Recap of the Memorable 23' Season

• The Argos finished first in the GSC after going 39-17 overall, 22-8 in conference.
• The team captured their fifth GSC Regular Season crown and third GSC Tournament title. UWF hosted the South-Region tournament as the two-seed for their ninth NCAA tournament appearance.
• UWF set a school record of most runs scored in a single game in a 23-4 victory (April 19).
• Darrien McDowell led the team offensively with a .357 batting average. McDowell led in hits (75), doubles (16), home runs (14) and RBI (63).
• McDowell set a UWF single season home run record of 14 in the GSC Tournament (May 9).
• Neuschwander finished the season with a 1.87 ERA. In 101.1 innings pitched, he threw 77 strikeouts and held opponents to a .198 batting average.
• Neuschwander drew up an impressive resume that contained 14 accolades throughout the season including GSC Pitcher of the Year and South Region Pitcher of the Year for the NCBWA, D2CCA and ABCA. He was also named an All-American by the NCBWA, D2CCA and ABCA.

 
Familiar Faces Among the Infield

• The program's first Rawlings National Gold Glove Winner returns for his senior year. Jeffcoat led the team with 157 assists. The shortstop was involved in 29 double plays. Jeffcoat finished with a .328 batting average. The consistent lead of batter tallied 66 hits and led the team with three triples. He recorded a team-high in stolen bases – went 16-for-19.
• McDowell will continue to stand his ground at first base. Defensively, he recorded a team-high 455 putouts – over 200 more than the next player. He led the starters with a .994 fielding average.
• Preston Moore steps up to third base for the third consecutive season. The senior out of Alabama started in all 56 games last season. In 53 hits, Moore recorded the second most doubles on the team (15).

 
Strong Talent in the Outfield

• GSC All-Tournament members Jackson Grabsky and Jadon Fryman return to the outfield.
• Grabsky showed his diverse talent by tackling positions in both the infield and outfield last season. Entering his second season with the program, Grabksy is set to make a mark in the left field. Offensively, he recorded a .312 batting average and racked up 59 hits, seven doubles and three homers.
• Fryman and Dean Hotz return to the roster. Fryman recorded a .333 batting average and Hotz followed just behind at a .325 average. They each hit 10 doubles and combined for five homeruns.

 
The Trio Returns

• Some of GSC's best pitchers are stepping back onto the mound for UWF.
• Starting pitchers Neuschwander, Manderscheid and Posey will take the stage this weekend over Florida Southern.
• In the 2023 season, Neuschwander and Manderscheid made All-GSC First Team with Posey gaining recognition as a second team honoree.
• Manderscheid made 14 starts last season and threw a .261 earned run average. He led the squad with four complete games and went 7-1 on the mound.
• Posey recorded the most appearances of the starting pitchers at 17 and made 15 starts. He threw for 73 innings and held his opponents to a .239 batting average. He went 7-3 on the mound for a 3.21 earned run average.
• Reliever Chase Wilkerson returns for his senior year. Last season, Wilkerson led the team with seven saves. In his 22 appearances, he threw for 24 innings and recorded 26 strikeouts.

 
Newcomer Watchlist

• Junior transfers Brett Rowell, Parker Tubb and Marcus O'Malley are on the Newcomer Watchlist and they are players to keep an eye on.
• Rowell, a Florida native, will be a strong asset in the backstop. The catcher comes from Coastal Alabama CC – East. In his two-year, 80 appearance career at Coastal Alabama, Rowell recorded 258 putouts and 27 assists. He sat at a .338 batting average his freshman year and .301 the following year. He racked up a combined 25 doubles, a triple and four homers.
• Tubb will make his way to the outfield in his first season with UWF. The Pace, Florida native is coming off a .418 batting average and a .527 on base percentage at Coastal Alabama – South. In this impressive sophomore season, Tubb tallied 69 hits, a pair of homers and 29 RBI in 54 appearances. He also recorded 24 stolen bases.
• O'Malley is a FIU transfer. Before that, he was at Virginia Commonwealth his freshman year. He was an Atlantic 10 Champion and Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. O'Malley collected 42 hits that included three doubles and a home run for 30 runs and 22 RBI. O'Malley is set to take on the infield for his UWF debut.

 
About Florida Southern Mocs

• Florida Southern went 32-20 in the 2023 season, with 17 wins in the Sunshine State Conference. 
• Head Coach Lance Niekro enters his 13^th year with the program andhis 12^th season leading the Mocs.
• Rohsean Riley leads the position players for the Mocs. He was named Preseason NCBWA All-South First Team member. He started in all 52 matches and was named All-SSC First Team and both D2CCA and NCBWA All-South teams.
• Jevin Relaford had a team-best 14 stolen bases. He recorded 61 hits in 52 appearances.
• Another All-SSC and All-Region returning player is Bryce Safferwich. He led the team with 81 hits in 48 starts. Safferwich recorded a .382 batting average and top 10 in the nation for hits per game at 1.69 with 16 doubles.
• Pitchers Jordan Fox, Lake Fisher and Mitchell LeRoy return to the mound. Fox ended the 2023 season with a 5.88 ERA. Fisher had a 5.40 ERA and LeRoy finished with a 3.90 ERA.

 
Argo vs. Moc History

• This is the third consecutive year the Argos and Mocs will open their season against each other.
• Argos took the series, 2-1, in back-to-back years.
• Last season, the Argos had a victorious, 7-6, series winning triumph, over Florida Southern.
• Grabsky secured the win for UWF after a 10th inning go-ahead home run.
• The team's last meeting was in the NCAA Regionals. UWF took a 2-0 victory off an RBI from Fryman and a run scored off a wild pitch.
• In program history, the Argos are 23-25 over the Mocs. UWF has a 12-7 record at home. The last 19 matchups were split evenly 5-5.

 
Stay up to date with the program at goargos.com or on Twitter and Instagram @UWF_Baseball.