West Georgia Athletics

Carrolton, GA - The Wolves have been at home all week, taking on a schedule that could easily be called the toughest home schedule in the nation. That schedule gets no easier on Saturday, as 11th-ranked Alabama-Huntsville makes their first trip to the frigid ground at University Field.

Complete Release (PDF)
Alabama-Huntsville Website 

#9 Alabama-Huntsville
Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
University Field

The Chargers entered last week with a foul taste in their mouths after losing three straight to close out the Wolves’ Invitational in their last trip to Carrollton.
    Those losses dropped Alabama-Huntsville from the No. 1 spot in Division II softball to the No. 9 spot, and the Chargers took that out on their last three opponents. Facing almost an identical schedule to West Georgia, UAH beat No. 3 Valdosta State at home, 1-0 and 5-4. They then followed that with an 8-5 and 9-7 victory over No. 13 West Florida, also in Huntsville.
    Among those wins was a pair of victories over No. 17 LeMoyne, a team that was scheduled to play West Georgia last week, but the game was called due to the torrential rain that hit the Carrollton area in the middle of the week.
    The Chargers are a tough hitting and pitching team, with four different players hitting at least .350 on the year. That group is led by Beth Lawson, who comes into the weekend hitting .400 on the season thus far. In addition to a great batting average, Lawson is a tough out, walking 12 times and striking out only three times.
    One of the top players in the league would have to be pitcher Whitney Hawkins, who not only has an outstanding 1.34 ERA with  48 strikeouts to just eight walks, but she is also a great hitter. Hawkins is fourth on the team in hitting with a .362 batting average and she also has three home runs to her credit this season.
    The biggest threat to strikeout a batter is Whitney Gilbert, who has a 2.23 ERA and a team-high 78 strikeouts on the year.

University Field Weather Watch

West Georgia’s new home is a beautiful place to play and watch softball, but the wind is a constant companion to anyone watching a game at the Wolves’ newest home field.
    On Saturday, the forecast is good for the Wolves against the Chargers, as no rain is in the forecast for Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The weather is supposed to be nice, with temperatures in the 70s. Fans should be aware, however, that the wind is a constant part of West Georgia softball and should prepare accordingly.