This past weekend, great hitting and average pitching defeated great pitching and average hitting. However, when it comes to tournament time, I will take a great pitching and average hitting over great hitting and average pitching. ODU won't last more than 3 games in the tournament and if they somehow drop their opening round game, they will not make it back through. Pitching depth wins conference tournaments. No other team in C-USA can push 6 starters on the mound, USM can. Bats will get better, getting Ewing back will help. Paetow bats .340 plus in the leadoff position. Here is what the lineup could look like.
1. Paetow
2. Dickerson
3. Ewing
4. Sargent
5. McGillis
6. Wilks
7. Lynch
8. Johnson
9. Gabe
Putting Gabe at 9th only gives the order back-to-back leftys at 6 and 7. That will make situational pitching to this staff more difficult. Having Gabe hit 9th puts someone on base for Paetow and Dickerson to drive in.