DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Union College is entering uncharted territory as it gears up for the 2009 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round match-up with Warner (Fla.) University.

First off, this marks the first year the NAIA is going with the opening round format, which splits a 45-team field into nine, five-team fields.

Secondly, the Bulldogs have never played the Royals. However, the two squads do share a common opponent - Appalachian Athletic Conference rival Milligan (Tenn.) College.

Warner dropped both ends of a doubleheader from Milligan on March 3, losing 6-0 and 13-8. Meanwhile, Union swept the three-game, conference series with Milligan by the scores of 7-5, 18-6 and 6-0.

The Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed with Warner the No. 3 seed in this opening round field.

The tournament will open Tuesday with No. 4 Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) taking on No. 5 Union (Tenn.) University at 10 p.m. Union (Ky.) and Warner will then play at 2 p.m. with No. 1 seed and host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Fla.) University playing the Auburn Montgomery/Union (Tenn.) winner at 6 p.m.

Judging by each team's statistics, both seem to go about things differently.

Union relies on speed on the base paths and offense to lead it through to victory, while Warner hangs its hat on pitching and defense.

With 175 stolen bases in 210 tries, Union leads the NAIA in both categories and ranks fifth in runs scored (10.113) and RBIs (9.151) per game. The Bulldogs are also ninth in hits per game (11.264) and 11^th in batting average (.358).

In all, Union ranks in the Top 50 in 11 offensive categories.

Conversely, Warner cracks the Top 50 in only three offensive categories - 22^nd in at bats per game (31.906), 45^th in hits per game (10.019) and 49^th in doubles per game (1.981).

The Bulldogs have belted 54 home runs in 53 games this season and has five players with seven or more four-baggers with Josh Ehringer (Somerset, Ky.) and Chris Daniels (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) leading the way with 10 apiece. Warner, on the other hand, has hit 33 home runs in 53 games, and Cory Johnson owns a third of them with a 11.

On the bases, the Royals have stolen 59 bases in 85 attempts with just two players with 10 or more. Jed Yancey leads Warner with 13. Union has three players with 32 or more swipes with Kenny Kysar's (Corbin, Ky.) 45 leading the way.

As a team, Union is batting .358 and has five players hitting .377 or better. Joe Grinstead (Bowling Green, Ky.) leads the way at .429 with Ehringer close behind at .423. Warner, though, hits .315 as a team with Yancey's .359 average setting the pace.

On the mound, the teams are near equals. Warner holds a slight edge in team earned-run average at 4.86 for the Royals and 4.96 for the Bulldogs. The Union pitching staff has fanned 298 batters in 393 2/3 innings of work, while Warner has recorded 295 strikeouts in 428 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .286 against Union and .288 versus Warner.

John Durham has been the Royals horse on the hill, posting a 9-2 record with a 3.29 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. Durham also has five complete games and two shutouts.

For Union, Chaz Bargo (Artemus, Ky.) and Lance Dougherty (Canyon, Texas) have been the leading hurlers. Bargo, a right-hander, is 10-1 with a 3.74 ERA, five complete games, two shutouts and 55 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings. Dougherty is 8-1 with a 3.10 ERA, two complete games, one shutout and 48 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Both teams have recorded nine saves, but Jose Cabrera has seven of Warner's while seven different players have notched a save for Union with no one having more than two. Cabrera has been solid out of the Royals' pen, posting a 4-0 record with seven saves 1.82 ERA in 17 appearances.

All in all, this first-ever meeting between Union and Warner should prove to be a very interesting and entertaining contest.