#TCCBaseball, Chipola renew diamond rivalry

Tallahassee vs. Chipola Statistical Comparison

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 18, 2016) – Provided Mother Nature cooperates, Tallahassee Community College's baseball team will open a three-game series with long-time rival Chipola College at 6 p.m. eastern on Friday. 

Games one and three (6 p.m. Monday) are in Marianna while Saturday's game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Eagle Field, weather permitting. 

With one Panhandle Conference series in the books, both Tallahassee (28-7) and Chipola (23-9) are 2-1 in league play, one game ahead of Gulf Coast State College (1-2) and Pensacola State College (1-2). Defending national champion Northwest Florida State College will open PC play today at home against Gulf Coast State. 

In a compact, 20-game league schedule, series wins are vital – and by extension, so are game ones. Tallahassee achieved the former against Pensacola State despite missing out on the latter. The Pirates knocked off Tallahassee, 7-5, in last Saturday's series opener, but the Eagles outscored Pensacola State 24-7 over the next two games.    

Skylar Arias pitched a complete-game in Monday's 9-1 road victory then the Eagles' bats exploded on Wednesday in a 15-6, series-clinching win. 

Meanwhile, Chipola took the first two games against Gulf Coast State, including Monday's 18-8 win in which the Indians pounded out 21 hits. The Commodores avoided the series sweep, however, winning 10-4 at Chipola on Wednesday. 

This edition of the Eagles-Indians rivalry will feature two of the top teams, not just in the state, but the country as well. 

Chipola is ranked fourth in the NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Coaches' Poll and No. 5 in Perfect Game's Junior College Top 25. Tallahassee is No. 5 and No. 24, respectively, in the same two polls. 

Saturday's game can be seen live online at TCCeagles.com.