The Buckeyes continue their early season road trip by traveling to Forest City, North Carolina to participate in the Western Carolina Tournament hosted by the Western Carolina University Catamounts. The schedule is as follows:
Friday, March 4th, 11:00 AM - Army
Saturday, Marth 5th, 3:00 PM - Western Carolina
Sunday, March 6th, 3:00 PM - Akron
Army Black Knights Official Baseball Site
Army 2011 Media Guide (PDF) - GoArmySports
The Knights will enter Friday's game on a 5-game losing streak having dropped a 3 game series to Maryland over the weekend. They came into 2011 with high expectations following their 28-17 mark of 2010.
Western Carolina Catamounts Official Baseball Site
Catamount pitching staff preview - WCU Official Site
The host Catamounts enter the tournament at 5-2 with victories over Manhattan and Morehead State.
Pitching Staff Overview:
Western Carolina returns 11 pitchers from a year ago, all of which having made 11-or-more appearances on the mound. The Catamounts return 29 of their 37 victories including nine-game winners Matt Benedict and Brandon Johnson. The Catamounts also have back five of their 12 saves with Johnson collecting two and right-handers Andrew Chilcoat, TJ Page and Kyle Stewart each tallying one.
Catamount preview position-by-position - WCU Official Site
Position Player Overview:
Despite returning nearly 50-percent of its home runs and a bulk of its RBI production, Western Carolina did lose a pair of big bats and a wealth of speed from last year's squad. Senior Trevor Collias led the team with 14 home runs while classmate Tyler Kirkpatrick hit 13 long balls for the Purple and Gold. The two ranked second and third in total RBI for the Catamounts as well. A third senior, Dylan de Graaf, had 30 stolen bases while Collias added 19 for WCU.
Akron Zips Official Baseball Site
Akron Zips Baseball Preview - GoZips
The Akron Zips enter the tournament on a 6-game losing streak with losses to Mississippi State in Starkville, Lamar, and Texas State. The Zips were picked to finish 5th in MAC this year.
Friday, March 4th, 11:00 AM - Army
Saturday, Marth 5th, 3:00 PM - Western Carolina
Sunday, March 6th, 3:00 PM - Akron
Army Black Knights Official Baseball Site
Army 2011 Media Guide (PDF) - GoArmySports
The Knights will enter Friday's game on a 5-game losing streak having dropped a 3 game series to Maryland over the weekend. They came into 2011 with high expectations following their 28-17 mark of 2010.
Western Carolina Catamounts Official Baseball Site
Catamount pitching staff preview - WCU Official Site
The host Catamounts enter the tournament at 5-2 with victories over Manhattan and Morehead State.
Pitching Staff Overview:
Western Carolina returns 11 pitchers from a year ago, all of which having made 11-or-more appearances on the mound. The Catamounts return 29 of their 37 victories including nine-game winners Matt Benedict and Brandon Johnson. The Catamounts also have back five of their 12 saves with Johnson collecting two and right-handers Andrew Chilcoat, TJ Page and Kyle Stewart each tallying one.
Catamount preview position-by-position - WCU Official Site
Position Player Overview:
Despite returning nearly 50-percent of its home runs and a bulk of its RBI production, Western Carolina did lose a pair of big bats and a wealth of speed from last year's squad. Senior Trevor Collias led the team with 14 home runs while classmate Tyler Kirkpatrick hit 13 long balls for the Purple and Gold. The two ranked second and third in total RBI for the Catamounts as well. A third senior, Dylan de Graaf, had 30 stolen bases while Collias added 19 for WCU.
Akron Zips Official Baseball Site
Akron Zips Baseball Preview - GoZips
The Akron Zips enter the tournament on a 6-game losing streak with losses to Mississippi State in Starkville, Lamar, and Texas State. The Zips were picked to finish 5th in MAC this year.
