NCCAA South Regional Info

ROME, Ga. – Having had to battle within one of the nation's toughest NCAA Division II conferences, the Shorter baseball team is turning its attention to the postseason as the Hawks are back on the diamond Thursday in the National Christian College Athletic Association South Region Tournament.

The Hawks, who ended the regular season with a 12-33 overall record and a 7-20 mark in the Gulf South Conference, is the No. 2 seed for the NCCAA tourney hosted by Point University and plays at 3 p.m. against No. 3 Clearwater (Fla.) Christian at West Point (Ga.) Park.

The winner of the showdown advances to the semifinal round playing at 2 p.m. on Friday, while the loser of the opener returns to action on Friday at 11 a.m. The tourney concludes Saturday with the championship game beginning at 11 a.m.

No. 1 seed Toccoa Falls and Johnson (Fla.) round out the four-team field in the double-elimination event.

The Hawks are led at the plate by junior Zach Santos, who leads the team with a .310 batting average, has 48 hits, 33 runs, 22 RBIs and carries a 497 slugging percentage. Juniors Dylan Riner and Bryan Mathews are just below the .300 mark carrying respective .299 and .298 averages.

Colton Cross heads up the Hawks pitching staff as in 12 starts the junior has a 4-5 record and a 3.49 ERA, while junior Travis McPherson leads team with 58 strikeouts.

The regional continues through Saturday with the winner earning a berth in the NCCAA Baseball National Championship on May 14-17 in Mason, Ohio.