CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College baseball team returns to Gulf South Conference this week as the Choctaws host the University of West Georgia. The three-game series is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Mar. 23 at 5 p.m. with the doubleheader finale slated for Friday, Mar. 24 at 1 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE
Stats | Audio 
 
THE SERIES
Thursday's game marks the 13th meeting between the two schools with UWG leading the series 7-5. The Wolves took two of three in the series last season to game the advantage and seven of the last 10 affairs dating back to 1992.
 
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE NOTES
The Choctaws have claimed four of their last five contests entering the weekend. MC claimed a two-game series at nationally-ranked Union on Sunday, Mar. 12 and followed with two of three at Christian Brothers last weekend.
 
Kyle Smith and Hunter Austin each hit .500 or better at Christian Brothers. Smith led MC at the plate with seven hits in 13 at-bats (.538), including a 4-for-4 day on Sunday to clinch the series. Austin recorded five hits in 10 at-bats and led the team with five RBI.
 
Zack Ingram picked up his first collegiate win in a 6-5 victory at Christian Brothers on Sunday. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native tied a season-high with six strikeouts as he allowed two runs – one earned – in his longest outing of the season, 7.0 innings. The freshman allowed just seven Bucs to reach base without allowing a walk. Ingram posted a 1.29 ERA and held CBU to a .250 batting average.
 
Hunter Mullis garnered a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5.1 innings with no decision in the second game of Saturday's twinbill. Mullis held CBU to two hits without a run and a .118 clip at the plate.
 
Casey Echols continues to pace the Choctaws at the plate this season with a .387 average and a team-best 29 hits. Chance Whitten, who leads the team with 18 RBI and six home runs, ranks second on the team with a .312 clip at the dish and 24 hits.
 
Hunter Lacefield pilots the MC hurlers with a 2.96 ERA and has registered 24 strikeouts – second on the team. Tommy Taborda leads the unit in strikeouts with 33 and 30.1 innings tossed.
 
WEST GEORGIA NOTES
The Wolves have dropped their last four contests entering Thursday after being swept again West Florida over the weekend and a loss vs. North Georgia during the midweek.
 
Ben Utley leads the Red and Blue at the plate with a .374 batting average. Utley has registered a team-best 37 hits and 21 RBI through 25 games. Grayson McLeod has a team-leading 30 strikeouts on the season in 37.2 innings. Dalton Reagin leads the team with a 3.86 ERA and ranks third in strikeouts with 23 in 25.2 innings of action.