MUST SEE GAMES WEEKEND--BASEBALL

As hard as it is to imagine, the baseball regular season is starting to draw to a close. For the SIAC, however, the postseason has already arrived, sort of. Here's a quick look at some key games to watch for this weekend.

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NOTE: National rankings courtesy of Collegiate Baseball Newspaper

BASEBALL

#29 Armstrong Atlantic State (31-14, 11-10) at #24 USC Upstate (29-19, 12-12)

Friday 7 p.m. EDT
Saturday 1 p.m. EDT (Doubleheader)

The Spartans play host to the Pirates in a three-game series with serious Peach Belt Conference tournament implications. With only the top six teams advancing to the tourney, the loser of this set could be reduced to playing the role of spoiler. AASU enters the series ranked fifth in the latest South Atlantic Region poll, while Upstate comes in seventh.

#11 Georgia College & State University (37-11, 18-6) at #27 USC Aiken (32-15, 14-10)

Saturday 1 p.m. EDT (Doubleheader)
Sunday 1 p.m. EDT

The Pacers entertain the Bobcats in another critical PBC series. GC&SU ranked second behind Columbus State in the South Atlantic Region poll, while USCA is ranked fourth.

West Florida (32-14) at #6 Columbus State (38-10)

Friday 6 p.m. EDT
Saturday 1 p.m. EDT (Doubleheader)

Speaking of the Cougars, it might be a rare non-conference series this late in the regular season, but it might be the one they need to get much-needed momentum heading into the Peach Belt Conference tournament. CSU must re-group after a 9-2 loss to Montevallo on Wednesday. As for UWF, the Argonauts come into this weekend's series having lost four of their last six contests.

#19 West Alabama (32-13, 9-3) at North Alabama (29-17-1, 5-7)

Saturday, 1 p.m. CDT (Doubleheader)
Sunday, 1 p.m. CDT

A lot will be on the line between these two Gulf South Conference East Division rivals this weekend, as the Lions battle the Tigers. UWA hopes to hang on to first place, while UNA must win at least two out of three games to stay in contention for a GSC tournament berth.

Valdosta State (25-22, 7-5) at #22 Montevallo (36-13, 10-5)

Saturday 3 p.m. CDT (Doubleheader)
Sunday 2 p.m. CDT

They may have the winningest active coach in NCAA Division II baseball in the soon-to-be retiring Tommy Thomas. Still, the Blazers find themselves in a must-win situation against the Falcons to keep their postseason hopes from fading.

#26 Francis Marion (30-15, 13-11) at North Georgia (27-17, 12-9)

Saturday 1 p.m. EDT (Doubleheader)
Sunday 1 p.m. EDT

Since they're ineligible for the Peach Belt Conference tournament, as they're in their second year as a D-II member, all the Saints can do in this series is play spoiler against the Patriots.

#2 Ouachita Baptist (44-4, 14-1) at #20 Southern Arkansas (35-12, 13-2)

Saturday 3 p.m. CDT (Doubleheader)
Sunday 2 p.m. CDT

Despite the gaudy record, as well as a spot in the upcoming GSC tourney already having been clinched, the Tigers still need a good showing against the Muleriders to win the Gulf South Conference West Division title.

SIAC Tournament at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Can Albany State repeat as champions, and return to the NCAA Division II tournament?

SIAC Tournament Bracket--Click here.