CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel baseball team opens the Southern Conference slate this weekend with a three-game series against Western Carolina at Joe Riley Park. The Bulldogs and Catamounts will start things off with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday, March 23. The series will continue on Saturday, March 24 at 2 p.m. and the two programs will conclude the 2018 series with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday, March 25.

Probable Weekend Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 23 – Joe Riley Park – 6 p.m. – Live Stats – Live Video – Tickets
RHP Dylan Spence (0-2, 3.52 ERA, 30.2 IP) vs. RHP Chase Walter (0-2, 8.53 ERA, 19 IP)

Saturday, March 24 – Joe Riley Park – 2 p.m. – Live Stats – Live Video – Live Audio (WTMZ 94.7-FM & 1340-AM) – Tickets
RHP Alex Bialakis (2-1, 2.45 ERA, 25.2 IP) vs. LHP Tristan Baker (0-2, 11.19 ERA, 23.1 IP)

Sunday March 25 – Joe Riley Park - 1 p.m. – Live Stats – Live Video – Live Audio (WTMZ 94.7-FM & 1340-AM) – Tickets
RHP Jordan Merritt (1-2, 7.25 ERA, 22.1 IP) vs. LHP Taylor Purus (1-4, 9.00 ERA, 26 IP)

Entering this weekend's three-game series, Western Carolina currently holds an 86-63 record over The Citadel on the baseball diamond dating back to the 1971 season. The Catamounts claimed all three games last season and have won eight of the last 10 meetings.

Western Carolina enters the weekend 2-17 on the year and 0-7 on the road. The Catamounts are coming off a 9-2 win in the series finale with Kent State back on Sunday, March 18. After starting the campaign 1-3, WCU dropped 14 straight games, including four series to Canisius, No. 10 Louisville, Ball State and Kent State.

The Catamounts are currently batting at a .260 clip with 169 combined hits and a .337 on-base percentage for the season, including 45 extra-base knocks. Their opponents have batted .312 through the first 19 games with 214 hits, including 68 that went for extra bases, and a .419 combined on-base percentage. In the field, Western Carolina has committed 37 errors with a team fielding percentage of .946. The Catamounts' pitching corps enters the weekend with a 7.66 earned run average and 139 strikeouts, but opposing batters are currently batting .312 and have drawn 105 walks.

At the plate, Justice Bigbie leads the way with a .382 batting average off 26 hits. He is slugging .471 with a team-best .440 on-base percentage. Matthew Koehler has scored a team-high 14 runs while Caleb Robinson has crossed the dish 10 times. Only Bigbie and Luke Robinson have over 20 hits as Robinson has notched 22 on the year. Bigbie leads the way with 17 RBIs with Koehler second on the team with 13. Koehler leads the charge for WCU with seven extra-base hits, including two doubles and a team-high five home runs. Spencer Holcomb is second with six hits that have gone for extras, including four doubles and two homers. On the base paths, Koehler has swiped five bags on six attempts. The next closest are Caleb Robinson and Andrew Robinson with two each.

UP NEXT
The Citadel will next play at SoCon foe and long-time rival VMI next weekend in a three-game series in Lexington, Va. featured on ESPN3. The Bulldogs and Keydets will first tangle on Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. and will continue the series on Saturday, March 31 with a 2 p.m. first pitch. The two programs will close out the series on Sunday, April 1 with a 1 p.m. game.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Throughout the 2018 baseball season, fans can take advantage of the following promotions during home weekend series:

• First Responder Fridays - $2 off individual tickets with valid ID (maximum 4).
• Service Saturdays (active duty military, veterans, service groups & non-profits) - $2 off individual tickets (maximum 4).
• Sunday Funday (Family Day) – family groups of 4 or more receive $2 off each ticket.
• Kickin' Chicken Baseball Bingo – Play the all new Kickin' Chicken Baseball Bingo game by picking up cards at Will Call or at the ticket window for chances to win prizes.
• Keep an eye and ear out for the TD Bank Baseball Ball Toss, Charleston Crab House gift card give-aways and be selected for the Ashley Furniture "Best Seats in the Park."
• Select Sundays throughout the season are Kids Run the Bases (following the game) and Kidet Club Kid of the Game First Pitches.

For more information on The Citadel baseball team, please follow @CitadelBaseball and @CitadelSports on Twitter or visit CitadelSports.com.