Week Preview: The University of North Georgia baseball team will return home for four games this week, starting with a midweek matchup with Emmanuel before a three-game set in PBC play against USC Aiken.
Probable Starters (Based on previous outings): Wednesday - Corey Linz vs. TBA; Friday - Mitch Spence vs. Steven Bower; Saturday (Game 2) - Zach Rafuse vs. Derrick Pickvet; Sunday - Garvin Alston Jr. vs. Cade Heil
Rankings: North Georgia is receiving votes in the preseason Collegiate Baseball Poll released back in December. The next poll will come out near the beginning of March.
Nighthawks on the Web: Available links can be found above and on the baseball schedule page. Fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following the baseball team (@UNGBaseball).
Last Week: North Georgia went 3-1 last week and played in three extra inning games. The Nighthawks took down West Georgia in 14 innings in midweek action before taking two of three against Georgia Southwestern.
Scouting Emmanuel: Emmanuel is 11-9 on the year, having lost three of the last four overall. Against Peach Belt opponents, the Lions are 1-3, winning only against Georgia Southwestern on the opening day of the season. They have since lost to GSW, Augusta and USC Aiken. North Georgia is 24-3 against Emmanuel all-time and have won the last eight in the series. UNG has outscored Emmanuel, 64-5, in the last three games. The Nighthawks are 15-1 against Emmanuel inside Bob Stein Stadium.
Scouting USC Aiken: USC Aiken is 13-4 overall and 5-1 in league play going into a Tuesday matchup with Catawba on the road. The Pacers have most recently swept Georgia College and only have lost to Francis Marion in league play this year. The Nighthawks are 11-20 against USCA all-time and have split the last four matchups. UNG is 5-8 against the Pacers in Dahlonega.
Stat Leaders: Parker Morrison has the second-lowest ERA in the league with a 1.37, while Derrick Pickvet has the seventh-lowest at 2.93. Morrison also leads the league in saves with five. Conner Corbitt leads the PBC in homers with six through the first 16 games of the season. Nick Clarno is tied for third in the league with five.
PBC Team Stats: North Georgia has the lowest ERA as a pitching staff at 3.17, 42 points better than Francis Marion. The Nighthawks have the second best fielding percentage at .969, four points back of Columbus State.
