West Georgia Athletics

Carrollton, Ga. - The West Georgia Wolves (6-13) baseball program looks to return to the win column this weekend as they host Bellarmine University (5-7) in a four-game series that begins Friday at Cole Field. 

The Wolves are coming off a disappointing road trip where they lost five of six games, the most recent losses coming in a non-conference doubleheader sweep at the hands of West Alabama. 

Ace Cory Watts wants to bounce back for the Wolves after his first disappointing start of the year, last Saturday at Georgia Southwestern. The Hurricanes jumped on Watts early and often as he lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed ten hits and five earned runs in his shortest outing of the season. Coming into this weekend, Watts leads the Wolves' pitching staff in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts.

Coming off a great day at the plate in Livingston is outfielder Michael Markakis. After a slow start to the season, Markakis tattooed West Alabama pitching on Wednesday, going four for seven with two doubles and two runs batted in. 

Designated hitter Michael Hornsby will be looking to extend his season-long hitting streak, which currently sits at 19 games. Hornsby has paced the Wolves offense for much of the season and will be at it again this weekend against the Knights.

The Bellarmine Knights enter this weekend coming off a fresh sweep of Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday. This will be the second time this season that the Knights face a Gulf South Conference opponent, as they took one of three from North Alabama to open their 2010 campaign.

The Knights are led on the mound by junior ace Braxton Graven. Graven was an All-Region selection in 2009 and currently leads the staff this season with a 1.62 earned run average and 14 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched.

Swinging a hot bat for BU this season is senior Patrick Brady. The Knights shortstop leads the team with a .438 batting average, eight doubles, four homeruns, and 18 RBI in only twelve games. The Lexington, Ky. native was honored by the Great Lakes Valley Conference earlier this season by being named Player of the Week.

Mother Nature wants you to come out and watch the Wolves, as the weather forecast for this weekend calls for highs in the mid-50's on Friday and Saturday with a high of 61 on Sunday.