Eagles Set to Host Hendrix in Three-Game Weekend Series

The Emory University baseball team, winner of eight of its last 11 games, will return to action on Friday, opening up a three-game weekend series against Hendrix College at Chappell Park.

Game times for this weekend are slated for a 3:00 PM start on Friday, and 1:00 PM starts on Saturday and Sunday.

Coverage
All three games will have a video webcast and live statistics.  The webcasts, available at http://go.emory.edu/Webcasts/BaseWebcast.html, require the free version of RealPlayer from real.com to view.  Live statistics for the games are available at http://www.go.emory.edu/LiveStats/Base/xlive.htm.

Emory Eagles
Emory will enter play on Friday with an 18-10 overall record, after defeating ninth-ranked Birmingham Southern on Wednesday.  The Eagles are 10-4 at home this season, having already surpassed their win total at Chappell Park from all of last season.  Emory has batted .310 as a team this season, while scoring 7.9 runs per game, and the pitching staff has an ERA of 4.57 with a .287 opponents batting average.   Emory is led by head coach Mike Twardoski, whose 355-158-1 career record is good for a .692 winning percentage, the highest mark among active UAA coaches, 15^th-highest among all active NCAA Division III coaches, and 21^st-best mark among Division III coaches all time to start the season.  Assistant Coaches Bobby Perez, Brian Clark, and Greg McMichael will complete Coach Twardoski's staff for the 2011 season.

Hendrix Warriors
Hendrix will enter the game on Friday with an overall record of 13-11, following a two-game sweep of 10^th-ranked Trinity University at home last weekend.  The Warriors have also won eight of their last 11 games, but are just 4-8 on the road this season.  As a team, Hendrix has hit .287 with 5.7 runs scored per game, while its pitching staff has a 3.98 ERA and a .253 opponents batting average.  The Warriors are led by head coach R.J. Thomas, who has a 80-102-1 career record during his five seasons with the team.  He is assisted by Pat Burton and Neil Groat.

Matchup History
This weekend will mark the first meeting between the Eagles and Warriors in the history of the two programs.

Emory Notes
Emory's 13-6 win over ninth-ranked Birmingham Southern College on Wednesday was the team's first against a ranked opponent since the Eagles defeated 26^th-ranked Methodist University on April 11, 2010… It was the highest-ranked opponent Emory has defeated since April 7, 2008, when the Eagles were triumphant against then fifth-ranked Piedmont College… Emory outfielder Daniel Iturrey has a 10-game hitting streak, the longest current streak by an Eagle… Emory closer Mike Bitanga's seven saves rank him second among all NCAA Division III pitchers this season, two behind Richard Stockton's John Lightbody… Freshman Brandon Hannon began the week ranked fourth in walks, sixth in on base percentage, 20^th in hits and 25^th in batting average… Pitcher Paul Schwendel is currently 13^th among D-III players with five wins and 26^th with 43 strikeouts… As a team, Emory is second in walks, fourth in both triples and double plays turned, fifth in runs, and seventh in hits and doubles.