CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team returns to Gulf South Conference action this weekend as the Choctaws (12-16, 5-12 GSC) welcomes Valdosta State University to Frierson Field. The three-game series begins on Saturday, Apr. 2 with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. The finale is slated for Sunday, Apr. 3 with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
Saturday's opening contest marks the 16th meeting between Mississippi College and Valdosta State with the Blazers holding a 12-3 advantage following a series sweep last season in Tifton, Ga. Last season's meetings was just the second time the two squads have met at a neutral site. The first coming in the GSC South Division Tournament in Livingston, Ala., in 1985 where the two squads split.
 
The series marks the first meeting between Mississippi College skipper Jeremy Haworth and Valdosta State and the second time VSU head coach Greg Guilliams has faced the Choctaws.
 
Mississippi College looks to snap a two-game skid heading into the weekend following an 8-6 setback to Spring Hill College on Tuesday. MC picked up multiple hit efforts from Will Elliott and Caleb Upton as the duo combined for four of the team's 10 hits in the contest. Perry Turner, who took the loss on the mound, was one of seven hurlers to toe the rubber.
 
On the season, Hunter Bolin leads the team with 37 hits - tied with Logan Ferrell - and has posted a .407 batting average. Ferrell is second in average with a .352. Upton and Blaine Crim are tied for tops on the team in RBI with 18 each. Jake Fraze and Samuel Harrison pace the MC pitching staff. Fraze leads the team in innings pitched with 51.0 and second in strikeouts with 32. Harrison leads the team in Ks with 43 and second in innings with 47.1
 
VSU claimed its fourth straight win following a 20-5 victory over Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday. The Blazers are 19-11 overall and 10-6 in GSC play entering the weekend.
 
Dalton Duty paces the Red and Black's offense hitting .458 with 49 hits - both tops on the team. Duty has 26 RBI which ranks third on the team. Marcus Sigmon leads the team with 34 RBI while Ryan Smith has 28. Cody Mitchell leads the pitching staff with 59 strikeouts and is second in innings with 44.1. Kellan Bailey leads the hurlers in innings pitched with 45.2 and is second in Ks with 33.
 
Following the weekend slate, Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, Apr. 5 as it travels to Shreveport, La., to face Louisiana State University-Shreveport. The first of four straight contests away from Frierson Field. First pitch at LSUS is scheduled for 5 p.m.