ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson baseball team will look to get back in the win column when the Trojans travel to Peach Belt Conference-foe North Georgia, Tuesday night. First-pitch vs. the Nighthawks is slated for 5 p.m.
WHO: Anderson Trojans (15-13) vs. North Georgia Nighthawks (18-11)
WHERE: Bob Stein Stadium; Dahlonega, Ga.
WHEN: Tuesday 5 p.m.
COVERAGE
Live Stats: AUTROJANS.COM
Video: AUTROJANS.COM
THE TROJANS
The Trojans, who have squared off six times against a pair of top-25 teams already this season, and will face No. 11 Newberry in a three-game set this weekend, have suffered five consecutive setbacks and are looking for their first win in Dahlonega since 2012.
Nick Vella, who has hit better than .400 since late February, is third in the South Atlantic Conference with a .402 batting average and leads the Trojans with a .619 slugging percentage and a .463 on-base percentage. The Queens, N.Y., native is tied for the team lead with nine doubles and three triples. Junior catcher Carlos Hernandez has raised his batting average 67 points over the last seven games and is second on the squad at .353, while also notching nine doubles and leading the Trojans with four home runs.
Kye Andress owns a .307 batting average and shares the team lead with 13 walks on the season, while JC LeGrand and James Hanvey each enter the midweek contest riding five-game win streaks.
SCOUTING THE NIGHTHAWKS
North Georgia (18-11, 7-5 PBC) was tabbed to finish second in the Peach Belt Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 30-15 overall record last season and finishing second in the league with a 22-11 mark.
Outfielders Tim Conway and Crews Taylor, along with DH Nik Levensteins and starting pitcher Cade Heil were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Taylor and Levensteins were also tabbed as NCBWA Preseason All-Americans.
North Georgia has won four straight after dropping back-to-back decisions to Georgia Southwestern and Montevallo. The Nighthawks are 15-8 at home this season.
THE SERIES vs. NORTH GEORGIA
The Trojans and Nighthawks have met on 37 occasions, with North Georgia leading the all-time series, 32-5. The first-ever meeting between the two programs occurred during the 2001 campaign.
North Georgia has won the last 14 matchups, with the Nighthawks winning the last meeting, 5-1, last March at Bob Stein Stadium. The last AU victory came on April 4, 2012, when the Trojans shut out NGA, 2-0, in Dahlonega.
UP NEXT
AU will play seven of its next eight contests in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium, beginning with 11th-ranked Newberry on Friday. First-pitch against the Wolves is set for 7 p.m.
