West Alabama plays No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas (37-16) for the third time this post-season with the GSC Tournament Championship on the line.

May 10, 2006
Wednesday's games postponed until Thursday
...Games to start at noon

May 9, 2006
East versus West showdown looms for Conference Title
...SAU meets winner of UWF/UWA for GSC Baseball Championship

By Michael Banks, Gulf South Conference
Millington, Tenn.-A GSC Baseball Champion will be crowned Wednesday and the final game comes down to an East versus West, winner-take-all matchup.

No. 2 East seed West Alabama (40-19) sent the message that it is the defending 2005 GSC Champions, refusing to go home with a comeback victory against No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas, 5-3. The Tigers could not be tamed, erasing a 3-0 deficit in the top of the eighth, plating five runs without a hit. The Muleriders (37-16), previously unbeaten in the Tournament, received seven, solid innings from starter Duke Williams (LP, 4-2; 7.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO, 4 HB) who allowed just one hit and had six strikeouts entering the top of the eighth before SAU unraveled. Williams hit the first two batters, UWA shortstop Clark Humber and rightfielder Dustin Roberts, but had a runner on second with two outs and a two-run lead following a sacrifice bunt by clean-up hitter Roberto Martinez and a ground out by William Crawford. Four runs and four errors later, the Muleriders entered the bottom of the eighth trailing 5-3 without allowing a hit in the top half of the inning. The six errors were uncharacteristic of a team who led the Conference in fielding percentage this season, but cost them a victory. The loss snapped Southern Arkansas' nine-game winning streak, preventing its second 10-game streak of the season. The Tigers, who posted their first 40-win season in school history a year ago, repeated the feat as starter Josh Allums (WP, 5-1; 7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO) earned the victory and Brandon Wheeler picked up his ninth save of the season.

No. 4 East seed West Florida (34-24) kept its NCAA post-season hopes alive and advanced to its second GSC Tournament Semi-Final, eliminating No. 3 East seed North Alabama, 6-2. Josh Sawyer tossed a complete-game gem for the Argonauts, yielding just two runs on six hits while fanning six and walking one. UWF scored all the runs it needed in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating three runs on four singles. The Argos tacked on two insurance runs over the next two innings behind five different batters with multi-hit games. The Lions (38-20) looked sluggish following Monday night's four hour and fifty minute marathon with Southern Arkansas, managing just one extra-base hit and one stolen base.

Wednesday's elimination game, slated for 1 p.m., features East foes West Alabama and West Florida, the No. 2 and No. 4 seeds, respectively, from the Division. It's the first meeting between the squads in the Tournament, but the Tigers have a 2-1 series edge this season. No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas awaits the winner, having beaten both teams this post-season, with the first pitch set for approximately 4:30 p.m. The Muleriders upset UWA on the first day of the Tournament, 8-5, before dropping Tuesday night's contest. SAU defeated West Florida in the second round, 3-2. Follow the action with live scoring by clicking here for the first game and this link for the Championship Game.

May 8, 2006
Southern Arkansas wins marathon, remains unbeaten
...West Florida, West Alabama survive and advance

By Michael Banks, Gulf South Conference
Millington, Tenn.-Another No. 1 seed was sent packing, last year's Tournament winner has found their swing again and the league's hottest team emerged unbeaten as the 2006 GSC Tournament finished its third day of competition.

The lone undefeated squads remaining in Millington, No. 3 seeds North Alabama (38-19) from the East and Southern Arkansas (37-15) out of the West Division, combined for 409 pitches by six different hurlers, 88 at-bats, 27 hits, 21 runs, 30 men left on base, 10 hit-batsmen and seven errors, but in the end the Muleriders triumphed in Game 11, 11-10 in 11 innings. The four hour and fifty minute marathon began on-time at 7:30 p.m. Monday night, but ended during the early hours of Tuesday morning as SAU shortstop Derek Weldon drove in the eventual winning run in the top of the 11th. The Muleriders struck first and led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, but the game went back and forth with at least one team plating runs in all but two innings (second and 10th) and both teams scoring in four of the frames. Each squad went to the bullpen twice, with the final reliever from each team throwing more pitches than the previous two. SAU catcher Jeremy Triche continued his tear through the post-season, going 4-for-six with two RBIs, two runs and a walk without stranding a runner. Lion first baseman Aaron Hauser had his streak of reaching base 10 consecutive times snapped in his first at-bat, but finished 2-for-6 with three RBIs. Southern Arkansas reliever Kyle Ritter remained unbeaten, picking up his fourth win of the season while UNA's Frank Dougherty fanned seven batters and allowed just two earned runs, but was saddled with his third loss.

No. 2 East seed West Alabama left no doubt that it is the defending GSC Champions, routing No. 4 West seed Central Arkansas, 12-4 in Game 9, and eliminating the Bears from Tournament play. The Tigers' bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning when they broke a 1-1 tie thanks to five runs on three hits and one UCA error. The Bears added a run in the bottom half of the fifth, cutting UWA's lead to four, but the Tigers exploded again in the top of the seventh, plating six runs on six hits. West Alabama right fielder Dustin Roberts had a monster day, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Second baseman Jeff Mack led Central Arkansas (30-18) with three hits and a run scored in five plate appearances while recording seven outs in the field.

The first eight innings of Game 10 were completely opposite of Game 9, with No. 1 East Seed Montevallo (37-15) and No. 4 East Seed West Florida (33-24) locked in a pitcher's duel. However, the Argos' followed West Alabama's lead, plating four runs in the top of the ninth en route to the 6-1 upset. The Falcons are sent home on the third day of the Tournament for the second consecutive season, while West Florida claimed two victories in the post-season for the first time since 2003. The Argonauts were led by lead-off batter Josh Loosier whose three-run home run in the top of the ninth capped a 3-for-5 day for the center fielder. Jonathan Weaver started for UWF, earning his third victory of the year while Jeremy Joyce was saddled with the loss for the Falcons.

The final four teams resume play Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. with No. 3 East seed North Alabama squaring off against No. 4 East seed West Florida in an elimination game. No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas and No. 2 East seed West Alabama meet for the second time in Tuesday's final game at 4:30 p.m. The Muleriders defeated the Tigers, 8-5, this past Saturday in the first round of the Tournament.

No. 2 East seed West Alabama (38-19) turned back the clock 11 years on No. 1 West seed Delta State (37-17), eliminating the Statesmen from the GSC Tournament after two games for the first time since the Tigers accomplished the same feat in 1995. The teams exchanged runs in the top of the first inning but UWA scored one in the bottom of the second and two in the bottom of the third, then got timely pitching from starter Ryne Lawson and reliever Matt Chambless as the Tigers held on to win Game 7, 4-3. Lawson (7-3) got the win, tossing five innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out five, but got in a jam in the top of the sixth. After hitting the DSU lead-off batter Patrick Williams, Lawson gave up a single to catcher Derek Norris and walked second baseman Clay Sartain. West Alabama head coach Gary Rundles immediately went to the bullpen and Chambless hurled four no-hit innings and five strikeouts, preserving the win and picking up his fourth save of the year. The Statesmen received a complete-game effort from Robert Tucker who dropped just his third decision of the season.

For No. 2 West seed Ouachita Baptist (31-24), its first-ever trip to the GSC Tournament and Millington was not a pleasant one. One day after falling to No. 3 East seed North Alabama, the Tigers were eliminated from post-season play at the hands of No. 1 East Seed Montevallo, 4-2. The Falcons (37-15) staved off a ninth-inning rally by OBU in Game 5 when Montevallo relief pitcher Zach Andrews fanned lead-off man David Fischer with the bases loaded and two outs, earning his 11th save of the season. The game mirrored the Tigers opening-round contest with UNA on Saturday, as UM went in order in the top of the first and OBU scored in the bottom half of the inning. But OBU starter Steve Smith took a line-drive shot on his throwing arm off the bat of UM clean-up hitter Daniel Tankersley in the top of the second. Smith never fully recovered, leaving the game after two and a thirds innings and dropping his sixth decision of the year. Falcon starter Josh Davis hurled eight innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits and improving his record to 7-3.

No. 3 East seed North Alabama (38-18) is playing the kind of baseball it did during an 11-game winning streak during the regular season and it is paying off, defeating No. 4 West seed Central Arkansas in Game 6, 7-4. The Lions are 2-0 in the GSC Tournament for the first time since 1999, the last time they were crowned Champions. UNA first baseman Aaron Hauser continued his hot streak, going 3-for-3, with two walks and two runs scored. Hauser has reached base 10 straight times, hitting safely in his last six games. Lion starter Brock Hunton struck out 10 batters in eight and two-thirds innings, picking up his eighth victory of the year. Andy Jackson started the game for the Bears (30-16), hurling five and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs, but reliever Daniel Price was saddled with the loss after giving up three hits, three walks and the deciding run.

The nightcap, Game 8, featured a pitcher's duel between No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas (36-15) and No. 4 East seed West Florida (32-24). After three and a half scoreless innings, UWF plated a run in the bottom of the fourth before the Muleriders scored three of their own in the top of the sixth before triumphing, 3-2. SAU starter Todd Woodruff was brilliant, throwing a complete game and allowing just five hits and two runs, both unearned. Woodruff ran his record to 7-1 while fanning seven batters. Kyle Ramsay went eight and a third innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out four, but dropped a decision for just the fourth time this season. SAU went ahead in the sixth when catcher Jeremy Triche singled over the left fielder with the bases loaded and drove in two runs. Shortstop David Weldon then advanced Triche and Scooter Hendrickson to second and third, respectively, with a sacrifice bunt. Triche ended up on third after Ramsey tagged Hendrickson out on a fielder's choice, but a double steal with Eric Moya on first triggered Argo catcher Casey Gierke's throw to second, scoring the SAU battery mate for the eventual winning run. Triche has six RBI's and four runs on three hits in just two games of the GSC Tournament.

The action resumes Monday at noon with an elimination game between No. 4 West seed Central Arkansas and No. 2 East seed West Alabama, ranked 26th in the nation. No. 1 East seed and 10th-ranked Montevallo and No. 4 East seed West Florida will play the first inter-division game of the tournament at 4 p.m., with the loser being eliminated. The nightcap features both three seeds and the two hottest teams in the league right now with the East Division's North Alabama squaring off with Southern Arkansas of the West Division at 7:30 p.m. The Lions have won four in a row while the No. 30 Muleriders are riding an eight-game winning streak.

May 6, 2006
Top seeds fall in opening round of 2006 GSC Baseball Tournament

By Michael Banks, Gulf South Conference
Millington, TN-The first day of the 2006 GSC Baseball Tournament gave new meaning to the phrase, 'games aren't played on paper'. The No. 1 seeds from the East and West Divisions lost in the opening round for the first time since 2002 as all four lower-seeded teams triumphed Saturday.

No. 4 East seed West Florida (32-23) senior pitcher Todd Androsko threw 144 pitches and struck out five as the Argonauts knocked off West No. 1 seed Delta State, 4-2 in Game Three of the 2006 GSC Tournament. DSU (37-15) managed just six hits and one earned run off the right-hander from Fort Myers, Fla. as UWF sent the Statesmen to the "loser's bracket" for the first time in four seasons. The Argo's, 10-10 in the GSC during the regular season, entered the tournament with the worst winning percentage (.500) among the eight teams in Millington while the Statesmen had the highest at .833. Delta State took two of three from UWF during a non-conference series in mid-February. These numbers did not mean anything to the Argo's as they handed the GSC leader in wins, Rusty Rayborn (11-2) his first loss in over two months. It wasn't smooth sailing for Androsko the entire way as the Statesmen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. DSU threatened several times, but would not score again, stranding a total of seven runners in the contest. Androsko's biggest jam came in the bottom of the eight inning when the Statesmen loaded the bases with only one out. Argo head coach Mike Jeffcoat's mound visit came at the right time as his ace settled down, recording the final two outs of the inning en route to the complete game victory.

The first major upset of the day was in the Game Two as No. 4 West seed Central Arkansas (30-16) received a brilliant performance from sophomore ace Matt Whitaker (7-2) and knocked off the No. 1 East seed and 10th-ranked Montevallo Falcons, 2-1. Whitaker carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and allowed just three hits in seven and two-thirds innings before Daniel Price releived the Little Rock, Ark. native in the eighth inning. UCA had a marvelous fifth inning, both offensively and defensively as third baseman Todd Gossage broke a scoreless game in the top-half of the inning with a two-RBI triple to the gap in right-center while centerfielder Roger Lenderman and rightfielder Chris Houk robbed two different UM hitters of extra-base hits in the bottom of the fifth with unbelievable catches. Lenderman made an over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track in center for the first out while Houk stabbed a line drive off the bat of second baseman Derek Simmons in deep right field on the very next pitch before Whitaker fanned designated hitter Francisco Perez to end the inning. The Falcons (36-15), fresh off their first-ever GSC East Division Title, never really got the bats going, even though team pitching and defense were solid. UM starter Rusty Mask (7-5) went four and two-thirds innings allowing just two runs and three hits on 76 pitches, but was saddled with the loss. UCA's Brian Blankenship faced one batter in the bottom of the ninth, striking out centerfielder Brantly Clay and earning his 10th save of the season.

No. 3 East seed North Alabama (37-18) greeted first-time GSC Tournament participant No. 2 West seed Ouachita Baptist (31-23) with a rude welcome, defeating the Tigers in Game One, 8-4. UNA went in order in the first and after falling behind in the count, 3-0 with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the first inning, head coach Mike Lane spoke with starter Richard Brindle during a short meeting on the mound. Brindle responded by throwing three straight strikes, getting out of the inning down just 2-0. OBU starter Keith Barrett did not find the same success following his mound meeting with head coach Scott Norwood in the top of the second inning as UNA took the lead for good, scoring four runs on three hits and no errors. Brindle earned his ninth win while Barrett fell to 7-3. Ross Black picked up his fourth save for the Lions, tossing three and a third innings of shutout baseball.

No. 2 East seed West Alabama (36-19) and No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas (35-15) saved the blasts for last in Game 4 as the two teams combined for five home runs in an 8-4 Mulerider victory over the defending GSC Champions. The first three games saw two pitching duels and a game of small ball without producing a long ball. Following a lengthy, light rain and a drop in temperature, the ball flew out of USA Stadium in this slugfest. Three players, SAU's Kolby Tucker and UWA's Corey Coward and Clint Moody, connected for their first round-trippers of the season, while SAU designated hitter Jeremy Triche crushed his 10th and 11th homers of the season. Following a towering shot over the scoreboard in left field, Triche blasted his second one past the '414 marker in deep center field. Though hitting dominated the stats, both starters had good games as left-handed ace Cody Jones went the distance for the Muleriders, allowing five runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts while fellow southpaw Matthew Creighton fanned eight batters and allowed four runs on just three hits for the Tigers. Jones earned the victory, running his record to 11-3, while releiver Brandon Dill took his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings.

Sunday's action features all East versus West match-ups again, with the action starting at 9:30 am as East Division Champion Montevallo faces Ouachita Baptist in the first elimination game. Central Arkansas, fourth-seeded in the West squares off with the East No. 3 seed, North Alabama in the first game of the second round at 1:00 pm. The second elimination match-up at 4:15 pm pits two teams responsible for four of the last six GSC Tournament titles, 10-time winner Delta State against defending Tournament Champion West Alabama. The final game of the evening, slated to begin at 7:30 pm features No. 3 West seed Southern Arkansas, winners of seven straight contests, against upset-minded West Florida, the No. 4 East seed.

May 4, 2006
Field set for Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship

MILLINGTON, TN - West Alabama returns to defend their 2005 Gulf South Conference baseball championship, while Delta State will try to make it three GSC titles in the last four years, as the 2006 Gulf South Conference baseball championship kicks off in Millington this weekend. The tournament should showcase excellent play as seven of the eight teams have been ranked in the top 30 in the nation this season. Delta State enters the tournament ranked #12, while West Alabama is #26. The remainder of the field includes #10 Montevallo, North Alabama, West Florida, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas, and Central Arkansas. USA Stadium will be the hosting the event for the fifth consecutive year.

The tournament begins on Saturday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. with Ouachita Baptist (31-22, 2nd in West) against North Alabama (36-18, 3rd in East). East Division champ Montevallo (36-14) will take on Central Arkansas (29-16, 4th in West) at 1:00 p.m. West Florida (31-23, 4th in East) will meet the West Champions Delta State (37-15) at 4:15 p.m., while the nightcap, beginning at 7:30 p.m. will feature West Alabama (36-18, 2nd in East) against Southern Arkansas (34-15, 3rd in West).

The tournament will continue through Wednesday, with the championship being played Wednesday afternoon at either 1:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.

Daily ticket prices are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, senior citizens, and military. A tournament pass is $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students, senior citizens, and military. Local area groups and teams can contact USA Stadium at 872-8326 for discounted tickets.