Each game of this weekend's series will be broadcasted live on the SoCon Digital Network, with UNCG's own Luke Martin on the call.

2016 UNCG  baseball has had one of the best starts in program history with a 20-6 record heading into SoCon play.  The 20 wins prior to the conference season is the most-ever for a UNCG squad, and the .769 winning percentage is the highest entering conference play since 2003, when the Spartans were 12-0 entering conference. 

Already this season, UNCG has earned three series sweeps, while winning five total series.  Opening weekend UNCG took two of three from High Point and in the third weekend of the season, the Spartans took two of three from Army.  Those sweeps and series wins don't take into account the Coastal Carolina Invitational in which UNCG defeated Illinois twice, while splitting a pair of games with the host Chanticleers.  With six nonconference games remaining, UNCG has a chance to earn the school-record for nonconference wins in a season with the record being set 1997, with 23 nonconference wins.

The Spartans and Keydets have met 29 times with UNCG holding a 19-10 advantage in that time.  This is the first time the Keydets have played in Greensboro since 2001.  VMI and UNCG didn't play for 12 years prior to last year's meeting in Lexington, Va. as VMI became part of the Southern Conference in 2015. 

UNCG has one of the top offenses in all of Division I baseball in 2016.  Currently, the UNCG offense currently leads the NCAA with a .357 team batting average.  Air Force has the next closest average at .343.  UNCG also leads the NCAA in hits, runs, triples, and on-base percentage.  The Spartans are second in the nation in scoring, doubles, doubles per game, triples per game, and slugging percentage. 

Individually, L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) leads the Spartans with a .424 batting average.  The redshirt senior has played in 24 games this season and has hit seven extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs.  Kalawaia is tied for the fourth-most RBI on the season, having driven in 25 this season.  He is also tied with Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) for the team-lead with 33 runs scored.  Kalawaia has also swiped 14 bases this year to go with a .525 on-base percentage, both, team bests.  Stewart leads the Spartans with seven home runs this season.  The junior has served as the designated hitter in 13 games, and has driven in 27 runs while going a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen bases this year. UNCG has nine players who are hitting over the .300 mark, with all having played in at least 15 games. 

On the mound, UNCG will be using the same rotation as it has all season.  Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) will start on Friday.  Smith has earned a 3-0 record in his six starts and has one complete game victory.  Bryce Hensley (Asheville, N.C./Catawba Valley CC) has made six starts this season as well.  Hensley has earned a quality start in five of six, going 6.0 innings allowing less than three earned runs in each of those games.  Matt Frisbee (Candler, N.C./Enka) will go on Sunday.  Frisbee earned his first quality start last week, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and one unearned run.  Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) continues to work out of the bullpen.  Wantz leads the Spartans with 47 strikeouts this season and has pitched in 36.2 innings.  Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) has held down the back end of the bullpen. Sykes has worked in 13 games, earned a 2-1 record and has earned two saves in the process.  Sykes has held opponents to a .109 average against, best on the Spartan pitching staff in that category. 

VMI enters the weekend with a 15-14 overall record.  The Keydets have played some familiar faces for the Spartans, playing Georgetown once, then series' with Binghamton and UMES.  VMI owns a 6-1 record to similar opponents, having defeated Georgetown once in a tournament at Wake Forest, the taking two of three games with Binghamton and sweeping UMES in Lexington. 

VMI has had three players hit above the .300 mark, while posting a .275 team average.  The Keydet offense has shown plenty of pop this year, totaling 42 home runs.  Peyton Maddox leads VMI with eight long balls on the year, with Matt Pita and Collin Fleischer nipping at his heels, hitting seven apiece.  The 42 home runs is the most for one squad in the NCAA, with Maddox's eight ranking 12th.  VMI ranks in the top ten in doubles, home runs per game, and slugging percentage.  David Geary leads the VMI offense with a .351 average.  The senior third baseman has a team-high 13 doubles, four triples and 31 runs scored.  Geary has also driven in 24 runs and stolen five bases.  Pita has a .330 average through 29 games.  Pita leads the Keydets with a .642 slugging percentage after hitting eight doubles, two triples and the seven homers.  Fleischer has a .311 average in his 29 starts, connecting for seven home runs and nine doubles.  VMI has nine players who have started at least 25 games this season. 

The VMI pitching staff has a 5.61 ERA in 251.2 innings of work.  The Keydets will use the same rotation as they did in their SoCon opening series with The Citadel.  Matthew Eagle will get the ball on Friday night.  Eagle has earned a 5-1 record with a 3.60 ERA in 35.0 innings of work.  Eagle has struck out one hitter per every inning picked, while giving up a team-high five home runs.  Brandon Barbery is set to start Saturday.  Barbery has earned six starts this season, working in 34.0 innings.  Barbery has earned a 4.24 ERA with a 3-2 record in his eight appearances.  Josh Winder, VMI's most consistent starter, will go on Sunday.  Winder has worked in six games, starting all six.  Winder has earned a 3-2 record with a 3.40 ERA in a team-high 39.2 innings.  Winder also leads the team with 37 strikeouts this year.  On the back end, Taylor Edens has earned five saves for the Keydets.  Edens has worked in 14 games, logging 22.2 innings and has struck out 20 hitters.  Kyle Staats has earned the most calls out of the VMI 'pen, making 15 appearances.  Staats has earned a 5.40 ERA in 11.2 innings, striking out 12 to go with three walks.

-UNCG-