GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#3 Embry-Riddle (0-0) at Webber International (0-2) - 1 p.m.
#3 Embry-Riddle (0-0) vs. #24 William Carey (0-0) - 3:30 p.m.
DATE: Saturday, Feb. 1
CITY: Babson Park, Fla.
SITE: Heart of Florida Medical Regional Center Field
FIRST PITCH SATURDAY: 1 p.m. | 3:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
CURRENT EMBRY-RIDDLE STREAK: L2 (dating back to end of 2013 season)
LAST 5 GAMES: 3-2
LAST 10 GAMES: 8-2
CURRENT WEBBER INTERNATIONAL STREAK: L4
SERIES: Embry-Riddle leads 60-11
LAST MEETING: ERAU 3, WIU 1 • MAY 3, 2013 - Fort Myers, Fla. (TSC Tournament)
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CURRENT WILLIAM CAREY STREAK: L2
SERIES: First Meeting

AT A GLANCE
The 2014 season begins on Saturday for the thrid-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles as the Blue and Gold travels to Babson Park, Fla. to take on Webber International and No. 24 William Carey in a non-conference doubleheader. The Eagles are opening on the road for the third time in the Randy Stegall era and playing Webber International in the season opener for the first time ever. The Warriors were schedule to play the Crusaders on Friday, but rain cancelled the game.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
New faces for the Eagles dot the 2014 roster as 19 newcomers have joined the Embry-Riddle squad. 15 returners and five position starters are back for the Blue and Gold, including preseason All-American Stetson Nelson and 2013 All-Conference performers Jordan Johnson, Kevin Lindheim and Kyle Chastain. Nelson will most likely take the mound in Saturday's first game with Daniel Poncedeleon, Tyler Cyr, Clayton Wagner or Corey Tufts all are possible for the second contest.

SCOUTING WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
The Warriors finished 2013 in a tie for fourth in The Sun Conference, ultimately being ousted by the Eagles in the conference tournament. Brad Niethammer is the second-winningest coach in The Sun Conference, posting a career record of 556-526 at WIU.

The Warriors fell in a doubleheader last weekend to rival Warner, 2-0 and 3-2, struggling offensively, managing just five hits in the two games. Chazz Buckley recorded three of the Warriors' five hits in the twin bill while John Ganus and Chris Garcia both pitched well for the Warriors.

SCOUTING WILLIAM CAREY
Bobby Halford is one of the all-time leaders in wins in NAIA history, posting a career record of 961-592 at William Carey. The Crusaders went 36-23 in 2013, recording a 19-11 mark in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

WCU returns plenty of position starters and pitchers from last year's squad, a team that hit .285 and posted a 3.57 ERA in 59 games. All-SSAC selection Scott Fabre led the Crusaders in 2013 with a .369 average, 66 hits, 15 doubles, nine home runs and 53 RBIs. Shortstop Sean Hodges returns for the Crusaders after committing just nine errors as a junior while hitting .303 with 25 RBIs and 39 runs scored.

Vito Perna is the Crusaders' top returning pitcher, throwing 80.0 innings with a 3.71 ERA last year, striking out 56 opponents. Casey Wells, who posted a 1.80 ERA in 2013, tossed 15.0 innings with 16 Ks.

STATISTICAL TID BITS
• 1-0 - the Eagles' record against teams from Mississippi (8-4 win over Belhaven in 2010)
• 250 wins by the Eagles in the month of February
• 0 - the number of triple-plays the Eagles have turned in program history
• HOFMRC Field has been a good place for Eagle hitters historically, including Austin Goolsby's three HR game there in 2010
• ERAU is 20-5 in season openers all-time, including 3-2 on the road

EAGLE BASEBALL BY THE NUMBERS
977 - Wins in program history
348 - Career wins by Head Coach Randy Stegall
254 - Conference wins in program history
102 - Strikeouts by Stetson Nelson as a sophomore
80 - Hits by Kevin Lindheim in 2013
19 - Conference Championships in program history

26 SEASONS OF EAGLE BASEBALL • #1KCOUNTDOWN
The 2014 season marks the 26th edition of Eagle baseball and Embry-Riddle athletics overall. Embry-Riddle is 977-414-1 in 25 seasons, capturing 14 conference regular season titles, five conference tournament titles, seven regional crowns, claiming 29 NAIA All-America honors, 37 Honorable Mention All-American honors and advancing to the NAIA World Series 12 times (T3rd most in NAIA history).