March 30, 2006

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114/ (901) 619-1899 / Kimberly Kreider (901) 333-4023

SOUTHWEST BASEBALL HOSTS 6TH-RANKED CHATTANOOGA
Release written by Keith Gentry

The Southwest baseball team, winners of seven of its last eight TJCCAA games, will host 6th-ranked and conference-leading Chattanooga State in a three-game series this weekend at Tony Gagliano Memorial Field. The two teams will play a single game at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 31 followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 1.

The Saluqis, under the direction of third-year head coach Johnny Ray, have an overall record of 22-11 and are in fourth place in the TJCCAA at 10-7. Chattanooga State enters this weekend 27-6 overall and 12-3 in the conference.

Southwest is led by sophomore catcher Elvis Sosa, who has received the Tennessee Baseball Report Player of the Week award in each of the past two weeks. Sosa, a transfer from Union University, is batting .417 with 11 doubles, three home runs, and 22 runs batted in.

Other top hitters for the Saluqis are sophomore second baseman Preston Burleson (.396, 13 doubles), sophomore right fielder Jon Thurston (.378, 20 RBI), freshman shortstop Philip Gibson (.347, 10 doubles), and freshman outfielder/first baseman Corey Rudolph (.329, 27 RBI).

Projected starting pitchers this weekend are sophomores Jason Adams, Darren Wills and Ivan Nails. Adams has a 4-2 record on the season and is second in the conference with 55 strikeouts. Wills is 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA and is coming off back-to-back shutouts of Roane State and Columbia State. Nails, who has signed to play next season at Southeast Missouri State University, leads the staff with a 5-1 record.