Carrollton, Ga. - Head coach Skip Fite announced that the Wolves doubleheader with Tiffin on Saturday has been changed to a single-game, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Sunday will now be the doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m. Gameday Central
The Wolves started off the season on a great note, defeating Shorter College, 4-3, on Tuesday behind a dominant pitching performance by ace Cory Watts. Watts threw five innings of no-hit baseball, quieting the bats of Shorter with three strikeouts in the season opener. Freshman Randall Wright of Carrollton made his first collegiate appearance a memorable one, closing out the game for the Wolves throwing one inning with a strikeout and earning the save.
Facing a tough Columbus State pitching staff on Wednesday, the Wolves had just five hits, one being a long homer by first baseman Blake Parrott. Another bright spot for the Wolves in Columbus was the season debut of relief pitchers, Danny Beadling and Keith Manley. They combined for 3.1 innings of no-hit ball and three punch outs in relief.
Off to hot starts at the plate are newcomers, junior Brandon Mainor and leadoff man Michael Hornsby as they lead the team in hits. Mainor is swinging at a .500 clip with a double and a run batted in so far on the young season. Hornsby is doing an excellent job of setting the table for West Georgia as he also carrying a .500 batting average and leads the Wolves in runs scored. Parrott currently leads the Wolves with three runs batted in and has the team’s only round-tripper.
Tiffin will make the 11-hour bus trip to Carrollton for their season opener, as this will be the first time the two teams have ever met on the diamond. Last season, the Dragons completed the season with a 20-31-1 record and finished seventh in the tough Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
Returning for Tiffin in 2010 is 2nd Team All-Midwest Region and 2nd Team All-GLIAC outfielder, Ty Blake. Blake hit .402 in 2009 and set a school record with 70 hits on the season, while also leading the Dragons with 15 doubles. Also returning is middle infielder Val Helldobler. Helldobler was a 2nd Team All-GLIAC selection and sported a .354 batting average with 14 doubles in 2009. Last season, the Dragons pitching staff registered a 7.92 earned run average, last in their conference.