INSTITUTE, W.VA. – West Virginia State Baseball returns to action this weekend, heading north to face West Liberty and Wheeling in a pair of Mountain East Conference doubleheaders.

The Yellow Jackets will first stop in West Liberty to take on the Hilltoppers Saturday, with first pitch slated at 1 p.m. and the second game to follow. The same will happen Sunday in Wheeling as State takes on the Cardinals.

Live stats and video will be available for all four contests.

THE SCOOP ON STATE
WVSU enters the weekend on a 9-10 clip, and looks to bounce back this weekend from a four-game skid. State is 2-6 in MEC play, but has lost two of their last four by two runs or less.

Graduate student Andrew Stone continues to top the team offensively with a .368 average. His .544 slugging and .532 OBP are also team-best, as well as his seven stolen bases.

Freshman Nathan Paulsen leads the squad with two long balls while ranking third on the team with a .314 clip.

On the mound, senior Foster Conis continues to lead the way, carrying a 1.93 ERA across seven appearances with a squad-high 17 strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty enters the weekend on a 4-19 ledger, all four of their wins coming in conference play (4-4). The Hilltoppers are coming off a doubleheader sweep to No. 22 Slippery Rock, but prior to that, won three straight against Davis & Elkins and WV Wesleyan.

WLU is hitting .210 as a team, and are led individually by freshman Ryan Talbert's .373 average. Talbert also leads with a .522 slugging. On the mound, junior Justin Pennybacker's 3.77 ERA leads, having tossed two completed games in six appearances with a 1-4 record and 22 punchouts.

In their two-game series a year ago, State took both contests over West Lib, winning 6-4 and 13-2.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Wheeling carries a 10-13 clip into the weekend, but will face Charleston Saturday in a two-game set before taking on State Sunday. The Cardinals are 6-2 in the league and have won their last four games, sweeping both WV Wesleyan and Davis & Elkins.

The Cardinals are hitting .298 on the year, led by sophomore catcher J.R. Heavilin's stellar .421 average. Heavilin also boasts four home runs on the year and a .724 slugging percentage. As a team, Wheeling has blasted 25 long balls, with four Cardinals having launched four or more each.

Junior Hayden Scudder's 3.45 ERA is a team-best across eight appearances.

Wheeling bested State a year ago in both games, winning 5-4 and 10-3.