North Carolina A&T (1-2) vs. Liberty (1-2)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 24 
Time: 4 p.m.
Facility: Liberty Baseball Stadium 
Place: Lynchburg, Va. 

PROBABLE STARTERS:  

 LF Justin Rodriguez (.375, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs); CF TJ Ash (.364, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 runs); RF Cameran Brantley (.125, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 runs); 3B Grant Tilley (.333, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 runs); SS Dustin Baber (.400, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 runs); 2B Tony Mack (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs); 1B Justin Williams (.222, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs); C Ryne Stanley (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs); DH Camden Williamson (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs) 

PROBABLE STARTER: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K)

 WHO'S ON FIRE: Freshman TJ Ash is batting .364 after making his collegiate debut for the Aggies last weekend and earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rookie of the week honors for his efforts. In Game 1 Sunday, Ash turned in a 3-for-4 performance, including a double and RBI. 

AGGIES OVERVIEW: The Aggies dropped their 2021 season-opening series against College of Charleston, taking one of three games over the weekend. Pitching was a major strength of the team over the weekend as five pitchers combined to post a 1.29 ERA or lower, led by senior Evan Gates, who has yet to give up a run in 3.0 innings of work. Senior shortstop Dustin Baber sports a team-high .400 batting average. Junior outfielder Justin Rodriguez has the team's lone home run, a shot that ended up being the game-winner in Sunday's Game 2 against Charleston. MEAC head coaches and sports information directors picked to win the south division in the MEAC preseason poll. Head coach Ben Hall, who enters his seventh season, is 120-162 overall in Aggieland but is 69-60 over the last three years. 

FLAMES OVERVIEW:  The Flames are coming off a 1-2 weekend against Campbell. After winning the first game, 4-3, Liberty was routed in Game 2, 17-3, before a narrow defeat, 3-2, on Sunday. The Flames, the defending Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) champions, were picked to win the league again in the 2021 preseason poll, and four players received preseason all-conference honors. Senior shortstop Cam Locklear was voted ASUN preseason defensive player of the year and named the preseason all-conference team, joined by first baseman Logan Mathieu, outfielder Gray Betts pitcher Mason Meyer. Locklear is batting a team-high .375 this season with one home run, two RBI and a .750 slugging percentage. Fifth-year head coach Scott Jackson is 118-79 since taking over the program. 

News & Notes: 

• The last time these teams met, the Aggies dropped a weekend series to the Flames, 2-1, in 2019. 
• The Aggies were 1-3 in midweek games last season. 
• Liberty was 10-2 at home last year. 
• The Flames return seven of their nine starters from last season. 
• The Aggies have four players batting .333 or higher. 
• A&T had two players receive weekly conference honors (Johnson: Co-Pitcher of the Week; Ash: Rookie of the Week).