DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Jason Beverlin, Bethune-Cookman Baseball is set to open the 2016 campaign Friday, Feb. 19, welcoming Murray State to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for a three-game swing beginning with the first game at 6 p.m.
In conjunction with the upcoming Daytona 500, the entire weekend series will feature absolutely free admission to all three games.
It's baseball season ago in Daytona Beach, and opening day will feature a pair of teams that are comprised of revamped rosters that should make 2016 a season to remember. Both Bethune-Cookman (19-40) and Murray State (16-40) collected key wins down the stretch in their seasons, but failed to reach the NCAA Baseball Regionals.
Bethune-Cookman, predicted to finish second in the Southern Division of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) behind 2015 champion Florida A&M, will look to get back on track after falling in the championship series of the MEAC Championships a season ago in Salisbury, Maryland.
The Wildcats have a pitching staff in place that all earned letters a season ago, including two-of-three weekend starters in the form of All-MEAC preseason selection Alex Seibold (Lauderhill, Fla.) and Tyler Norris (Coral Springs, Fla.). Entering the rotation for the first time in a weekend series will be senior right-hander German Hernandez (Cleburne, Texas), filling in for former All-MEAC pitcher Keith Zuniga who graduated last year. Out of the bullpen is All-MEAC performer Clint Clymer (Ormond Beach, Fla.), looking to be the sole closer for the Cats once again this season.
In the field and at the dish, it will be 2015 All-MEAC performer and preseason selection Nathan Bond (Orlando, Fla.) as a senior leader, joined by redshirt junior catcher Clay Middleton (Oviedo, Fla.) and first baseman José Carballo (Cataño, Puerto Rico) as returning letterwinners for the Cats. Also joining the infield from the 2015 squad is redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims (Ann Arbor, Mich.) who enjoyed a stellar rookie season, starting in 52 games and serving as the only freshman in the league to start every game at shortstop.
AT A GLANCE
Records: Bethune-Cookman 0-0 (0-0 MEAC) | Murray State 0-0 (0-0 OVC)
Rankings: Bethune-Cookman is unranked. Murray State is unranked.
On The Web: BCUathletics.com • Twitter: @BCUDiamondCats, @JasonBeverlin
PROMOTIONS
Friday
- First pitch ceremony with Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning Corliss Fingers and Asst. A.D./Academic Support Dr. Earnest Fingers
- Free admission
Saturday
- Free admission
Sunday
- Free admission
BETHUNE-COOKMAN VS. MURRAY STATE PROBABLE STARTERS
FRIDAY, FEB. 19 (6 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Alex Seibold (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Murray State
LHP Jack Hranec (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
SATURDAY, FEB. 20 (1 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP German Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Murray State
RHP Austin Dubsky (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
SUNDAY, FEB. 21 (Noon)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Tyler Norris (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Murray State
RHP Andrew Bramley (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Bethune-Cookman-Murray State Series History
• This is the first-ever meeting between Bethune-Cookman and Murray State.
• This weekend's opponent comes from the Ohio Valley Conference. The last time B-CU faced a team from the OVC was on March 6, 2011, when the Cats took down SIU-Edwardsville by a count of 10-8 in Daytona Beach.
Noting the Wildcats
• Bethune-Cookman placed five players on the preseason All-MEAC Team.
• Preseason All-MEAC members include Clint Clymer (RHP), Demetrius Sims (SS), Nathan Bond (OF), Alex Seibold (RHP) and Jameel Edney (3B).
• Bethune-Cookman returns 20 letterwinners from the 2015 campaign.
• The Wildcats were predicted to finish second in the MEAC Southern Division.
• B-CU has not dropped a season-opening game at home since Feb. 7, 2004, when Bethune-Cookman fell to Jacksonville, 5-0.
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– @BCUDiamondCats –
