With a month left in the season, the Toppers have produced ample evidence that they might live up to the hype.

Western was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference for the first time in program history, and currently lead second-place Middle Tennessee by a game and a half.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position, going into the last five weeks of the season, to have an opportunity to win a championship,” coach Chris Finwood said.

The Toppers (25-9, 12-3 SBC) are in first place in the Sun Belt and lead the conference in a number of offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, hits, runs and runs batted in.

The Toppers swept New Orleans last weekend, outscoring the Privateers 41-6 in three games.

Senior shortstop Terrence Dayleg said that he believes the team’s consistency has been the key to its success.

Last season, the Toppers struggled to string wins together, never winning more than three games in a row, but Western managed to win the conference tournament and advance to the NCAA tournament.

“I think this year we’re more consistent, offensively and pitching-wise,” Dayleg said. “If we keep pitching the way we do and we keep putting up runs the way we are, I think we really have nothing to worry about.”

Dayleg said that the Toppers are trying not to focus on any particular opponent during the last month of the season.

“If we’re trying to make it to the NCAA tournament, every single game counts,” he said. “Every weekday game, every weekend game, every one counts, and a loss doesn’t help anything. Every game counts.”

But junior third baseman Wade Gaynor said that he’s talked to junior pitcher Matt Ridings about the importance of a season-ending series with Middle Tennessee.

“We take care of what we can do, and we should be in a good spot going into Middle,” he said. “But we have nine games coming up, our next three series, and I think the next nine games are huge for us.”

Gaynor said that the Toppers know they’re capable of returning to the NCAA tournament, and they’ve used last year’s experience to maintain their composure in close games.

“I don’t know how many teams I’ve been on where I feel confident every time somebody’s up to bat,” he said. “There’s not a hole in our lineup.”

Finwood said that he’s been impressed with the play of the team’s freshmen, including outfielder Jared Andreoli, who has started 20 games this season and has the third-best batting average on the team.

“We always tell them, ‘You guys aren’t freshmen anymore,’” he said. “They’ve all improved, and they’re all starting to contribute now. I’m not surprised, but I’m pleased with that.”

The Toppers play 6 p.m. tonight, at Austen Peay.