May 5, 2005

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114 / Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023/ (901) 489-4771

SOUTHWEST BASEBALL TEAM TO PLAY DYERSBURG STATE IN REGION “PLAY-IN” GAME

The Southwest baseball team will play Dyersburg State at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at Dave Hall Field in Columbia, Tennessee in one of three “play-in” games with the winners advancing to the TJCCAA/Region VII Tournament beginning on Saturday, May 7, also at Dave Hall Field.

Southwest, the defending Region VII champion, ended the regular season with a 29-26 overall record and finished as the eighth place team in the TJCCAA with a 12-18 record. The winner of the Southwest-Dyersburg State game will play top-seeded Jackson State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. The tournament championship game will be played on Wednesday, May 11. The Region VII champion will host the Georgia champion in the East Central District playoffs May 20-23.

The Saluqis, under the direction of second-year head coach Johnny Ray, will start sophomore left-hander Shane Jackson against Dyersburg State. The ace of the Southwest staff, Jackson was among the conference leaders this season with an 8-3 record and also led the team with a 3.80 earned run average, 90 innings pitched, and 58 strikeouts. Other top pitchers for the Saluqis are freshman Ivan Nails (2-2 record, 4.10 ERA, 6 saves), sophomore Josh Cowan (3-6 record, 4.46 ERA, 50 strikeouts), and freshman Jason Adams (2-5 record, 5.02 ERA, 29 strikeouts).

Top hitters for the Saluqis this season are sophomore leftfielder Brit Vincent (.394 average, 18 doubles, 5 home runs, 45 runs batted in), freshman third baseman Clay Wright (.383, 20 doubles, 7 home runs, 37 RBI), sophomore center fielder Chris Rogers (.381, 15 doubles, 1 home run, 31 RBI), sophomore first baseman/designated hitter Brendan Murphy (.376, 16 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 50 RBI), freshman first baseman/designated hitter Matt Akin (.368, 18 doubles, 2 home runs, 30 RBI), freshman right fielder Johnathan Thurston (.362, 9 doubles, 21 RBI), and freshman utility player Jeremy Finney (.340, 35 RBI, 20 stolen bases).