Friday Night Baseball at 6:00 pm

Game Time Moved Back from 4:00pm

SULTAN OF SWAT: Sophomore first baseman DuJuan Prater is counted on for clutch RBI hits. Photo by Clay Scarborough.WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- Today's regularly scheduled game between Southwestern Assemblies of God University and the University of Texas at Brownsville has been moved to a 6:00pm starting time. The beginning of a 3-game weekend series was slated for a 4pm first pitch. The National Weather Service lists sunny conditions and an afternoon high of near 50 degrees.

Due to lingering effects on the playing surface from recent snow, ice and frozen turf led to a decision to allow the grounds crew more time to ready the ballfield at the Waxahachie Sports Complex.

UTB, 4-1 so far this season, enters the weekend as one of the favored teams in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Scorpions had a 31-24 record last spring and qualified for the NAIA national tournament.

This is the first-ever meeting between SAGU and UTB-TSC* who have made the 450 mile trek from the Rio Grande Valley. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at the WSC starting at noon. Sunny skies are in the 60's are in the forecast.

Weekend Pitching Rotation

Southwestern, 3-2 this year, will start sophomore righthander Jared Jones (Copperas Cove, Tx / Copperas Cove HS) today. Michael Reeves (Ovilla, Tx / Ovilla Christian), also a sophomore righty, gets the nod in Game One of the twinbill. Chris Stanley (Harker Heights, Tx / Ellison HS), the ace of the staff in each of the past two seasons, will be on the mound for Game Two on Saturday.

Likely Starting LION-Up

The probable starting line-up for this evening's tilt has junior Dustin Jett (Patterson, La / Patterson HS) leading off and playing centerfield. Batting in the two-hole will be senior lefthander Cameron Ward (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep), the Designated Hitter. Jared Denton (Mission, Tx / Sharyland HS), the freshman leftfielder, will bat third, followed by senior Patrick Wherland (Petrolia, Tx / Petrolia HS) hitting clean-up. Wherland will man the rightfield post.

Playing at first base and batting fifth is DuJuan Prater (Copperas Cove, Tx / Copperas Cove HS), a sophomore first baseman. Ben Chavez (Roswell, NM / NMMI, Gateway HS) plays at third, catcher and at second. The junior will likely be at 2nd base today.

Behind the plate will be junior catcher Dominic Denney (Albuquerque, NM / La Cueva HS) at the #7 spot. The decision for the start on the hot corner will be made near game time between sophomore Riley Hensel (Maypearl, Tx / Maypearl HS) and freshman Weston Lippe (Huntsville, Tx / Alpha-Omega Academy).

Perhaps the Lions most versatile player is David Gomez (Arlington, Tx / Bowie HS). The junior has appeared in three different infield positions as well as the outfield. Gomez will bat ninth.

The Waxahachie Sports Complex is located on Broadhead, just north of Highway 287. The park is across the street from the Showbiz Theatre and Whataburger. Admission is free.

*Texas' Southernmost College