All three games will be broadcasted on the SoCon Digital Network, with Luke Martin on the call.  As always, fans can follow live stats on UNCGSpartans.com, or stay updated on Twitter by following @UNCGScores.  Fans can stay updated on all UNCG Baseball happenings by following @UNCGBaseball on Twitter. 

The Spartans suffered a 14-8 loss to Elon at Latham Park on Wednesday evening.  Jake Kusz hit his sixth home run of the season in the loss, as UNCG connected for 10 hits in the game.  Spartan pitching issued 13 free passes, including 10 walks in the contest.  Aside from Kusz, Spitznagel, Woody, and Stewart all had extra-base hits. 

Currently, the UNCG offense currently leads the NCAA with a .361 team batting average.  Louisville and Texas A&M are currently battling for second, but trail by an impressive 27 points.  UNCG also leads the NCAA in scoring (9.4), runs (361), hits (513), doubles (104), slugging percentage (.548), sacrifice flies (30) and on-base percentage (.441). 

UNCG has connected for at least 38 hits in every weekend since the start of the season.  UNCG has also knocked out 10 or more hits in 29 of 39 games played so far this season, including going for 20+ in five games.  The Spartans have had 20+ hit games 10 times in the 24 year history of the program, prior to this year.

The Spartans have three players hitting above .400 this season, the most of any NCAA Division I team.  Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) leads the team with a .429 average, 9th in the NCAA, after an impressive 13-for-15 performance in three games against the Furman Paladins.  Freshman Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) has hit for a .408 average, and has a SoCon-best 23-game hitting streak.  The outfielder has also reached base in 38 of 39 games, including having reached in 35-straight.

LJ Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) also hits above the .400 mark, at .411.  The redshirt senior has driven in 51 runs this year, scored 47, hit for extra bases 14 times, including five home runs. 

Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) leads the Spartans with 51 RBI this season.  UNCG has six players who have driven in at least 32 runs this year, the most of any Southern Conference team.  UNCG has four players in the top 52 of RBI producers, the most of any NCAA Division I institution. 

UNCG has nine players hitting above the .300 plateau who have played in at least 22 games this season. 

On the mound, UNCG has changed up the rotation for the first time this year.  Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) will go on Friday, Keaton Haack (Greensboro, N.C./Pitt CC) will throw Saturday, and last week's SoCon Pitcher of the Week Matt Frisbee (Candler, N.C./Enka) will throw on Sunday. 

Smith has kicked off every series this season, working in nine Friday night games this year.  Smith has four quality starts this season, including a complete game against Marist, striking out a career-high, nine.  In his last outing, Smith worked 5.1 innings against Furman, allowing nine hits and seven runs while picking up his first loss of the season. 

Haack makes his first weekend start of his career this Saturday.  The senior has started a total of six games in his career, including five midweek games this season.  Haack has worked in 42.2 innings in his career, and has struck out 37 hitters.  In his last outing, Haack worked 6.0 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with five strikeouts in an 18-3 victory over Wake Forest. 

Frisbee, the current SoCon Pitcher of the Week, will start his 10th Sunday game this season.  Frisbee has worked the series finale in every series this year.  In his last two outings, Frisbee has earned quality starts.  In his last outing at Furman, Frisbee worked a 7.0 innings complete game, allowing two hits and at one point retiring 11 batters in a row. 

UNCG has some imposing forces that can come out of the bullpen. Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) has earned SoCon Pitcher of the Week honors previously, and leads the Spartans with 64 strikeouts on the year.  Wantz has pitched in 50.2 innings, and has the lowest ERA of any UNCG pitcher.  Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) has also had an impressive season out of the bullpen.  Sykes was the SoCon's Pitcher of the Month for his efforts during the month of March.   On the season, Sykes has a 2.61 ERA, and a 2-2 record in 31.0 innings.  Sykes has earned a team-best three saves, while striking out 37 hitters on the year. 

The Spartans and Buccaneers have met a total of 33 times, with UNCG holding a 21-12 advantage in that time.  UNCG and ETSU last met in Johnson City, Tenn. a year ago, with UNCG taking two of three games from the Buccaneers.  Prior to the 2015 season, UNCG and ETSU last met in 2005, in a nonconference series.  ETSU was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference from 2003 until 2014.   Prior to that, the Buccaneers were members of the Southern Conference, where the bulk of the meetings between the two schools met.

ETSU is currently 3-6 in the SoCon, currently in seventh place in the conference.  The Buccaneers have played Western Carolina, Furman and Mercer.  After dropping two of three in Cullowhee to the league-leading Catamounts, the Bucs took two of three at home against the Paladins.  In the last SoCon series, ETSU was swept by Mercer at home.  Prior to defeating Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday evening, The Bucs had lost seven-straight, including a series sweep to the UNCW Seahawks. 

ETSU is fourth in the conference with a .308 team batting average.  The Buccaneers are led by senior Trey York.  York has hit for a .388 average in 36 games this season.  York leads the team with 10 home runs, and 16 doubles to go with 37 RBI on the year.   York also leads ETSU with 42 runs scored and is tied with Aaron Maher for second on the squad with 11 stolen bases.  Robby McCabe has started 24 games this season, and has earned a .355 average.  McCabe has hit for extra bases seven times, including four home runs. 

Hagen Owenby has put together a solid season, hitting for a .336 average in 36 games this season.  The right-handed hitting catcher has connected for nine home runs and 12 doubles with 37 RBI on the year.  Ownenby has scored 24 runs on the year, while earning a .388 on-base percentage.  Aaron Maher has worked in the cleanup spot the last few games, Maher has hit for a .331 average in 35 games.  Maher has 18 extra-base hits and has driven in 27 runs and scored an additional 31.  The outfielder has also swiped 11 bases on the year. 

On the mound, ETSU has earned a 7.06 ERA, the highest of all SoCon teams.  ETSU is set to send a trio of right-handers to the hill against the Spartans.   Victor Gonzalez will get the ball on Friday night.  Gonzalez has pitched in nine games this season, including seven starts.  Gonzalez has earned a 6.53 ERA in 30.1 innings to go with 16 strikeouts.  He last started on Sunday, April 17th against UNCW, where he went 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and six earned runs in the process.  Gonzalez worked an inning against Eastern Kentucky in the midweek, earning the win while not allowing a run through 1.0 inning. 

Lee Haeberle will start on Saturday.  Haeberle has started nine games this season, making four appearances out of the bullpen.  The 6' 5'' senior has worked in a team-high 50.1 innings along with a team-high 55 strikeouts on the year.  In his last start, Haeberle earned his first loss, going 2.2 innings against UNCW.  He allowed 12 hits and 10 earned runs in the process.  Haeberle worked in the EKU matchup, allowing three earned runs in one inning. 

Blake Smith will wrap up the series on Sunday.  Smith has started eight games and appeared in five out of the bullpen.  Smith has the lowest ERA of ETSU pitchers with at least 10.0 innings pitched, at 5.17.  The right-hander has worked in 47.0 innings, and has struck out 39 batters this season to go with a 3-4 record.  Smith's last start came on April 1st in the series opener against Furman.  Smith worked 5.0 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. 

Peyton Taylor has worked as the closer, appearing in 21 games this year.  Taylor has earned three saves in 25.0 innings, striking out 13 hitters to go with a 3-4 record, and a 6.48 ERA. 

-UNCG-