DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Baseball is set to host two games in midweek action at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark this week, beginning with USF on Tuesday, March 1, at 6 p.m. A day later, the Wildcats welcome fellow Volusia County opponent Stetson at 6 p.m.
The Wildcats are beginning a stretch of five home games in six days at home. They return to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark after a weekend away in Winter Haven, Florida. B-CU fell to Wisconsin-Milwaukee last weekend in a single game as part of the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational, held at Chain of Lakes Stadium.
This week's games against USF and Stetson are the first of two midweek affairs on the 2016 campaign against both teams, respectively. The Wildcats will return to each team in Tampa and DeLand later in the season.
AT A GLANCE
Records: Bethune-Cookman 2-3 (0-0 MEAC) | USF 4-3 (0-0 AAC) | Stetson 3-5 (0-0 A-Sun)
Rankings: Bethune-Cookman is unranked. USF is unranked. Stetson is unranked.
On The Web: BCUathletics.com • Twitter: @BCUDiamondCats, @JasonBeverlin
PROMOTIONS
Tuesday
- There are no promotions from Bethune-Cookman for the game against USF.
Wednesday
- Greek Night
BETHUNE-COOKMAN VS. USF PROBABLE STARTERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 1 (6 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP German Hernandez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
USF
LHP Andrew Perez (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
BETHUNE-COOKMAN VS. STETSON PROBABLE STARTERS
WEDMESDAY, MARCH 2 (6 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
LHP Donté Lindsay (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Stetson
LHP Adam Schaly (0-0, 4.91 ERA)
Bethune-Cookman-USF Series History
• USF leads the all-time series with Bethune-Cookman, 57-15
• USF claimed both meetings last season including a 1-0 road victory (March 11) and a 7-5 home win (April 22).
• The Wildcats have dropped each of the last three meetings against the Bulls.
Bethune-Cookman-Stetson Series History
• Stetson leads the all-time series against B-CU by a commanding 72-18 count.
• Since 2010, Stetson leads the series by a 9-7 advantage.
• In 2010, the Wildcats took three out of four games against the Hatters.
• The Hatters claimed both contests last year at home and on the road.
Noting the Wildcats
• Since opening the season with a series victory against Murray State, Bethune-Cookman has dropped has dropped its last two games against UCF and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, respectfully.
• Tuesday's game marks the first of five consecutive home games for the Wildcats this week.
• Senior pitcher German Hernandez was named last week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Pitcher of the Week.
• Hernandez, a 6-3, 205-pound senior pitcher from Cleburne, Texas, picked up his first win of the season in helping Bethune-Cookman shutout the Murray State Races over the weekend inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. He tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out a career-best eight, in a 6-0 victory over the Racers, helping the Cats even the series with the game two victory.
• Preseason All-MEAC members include Clint Clymer (RHP), Demetrius Sims (SS), Nathan Bond (OF), Alex Seibold (RHP) and Jameel Edney (3B).
• The Wildcats were predicted to finish second in the MEAC Southern Division.
• Bethune-Cookman placed five players on the preseason All-MEAC Team.
Notes from the Bulls
• This is the first road game for USF this season. The Bulls play the first 26 contests of the season in-state. The team does not leave the state of Florida until April 1 when USF begins conference play at Cincinnati. The Bulls have just 19 scheduled road games compared to 37 home games this season.
• Catcher Levi Borders hit .500 during the weekend series with Eastern Michigan. He compiled a .500 batting average (5-for-10), with four runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs. Both doubles came in the 8-4 win against the Eagles (Feb. 26). He also caught every inning of the weekend series, guiding the Bulls' pitching staff to a 1.00 WHIP and 14 more strikeouts than innings pitched.
• Catcher Levi Borders and outfielder Luke Maglich were both named to the 2016 All-American Athletic Conference Preseason Team.
• Outfielder Garrett Zech was named the preseason AAC Freshman of the Year, according to the staff at D1Baseball.com.
Notes from the Hatters
• The Hatters come into the game against Bethune-Cookman with a record of 3-5 overall.
• Wednesday night's game is the first road game of the year for Stetson, having played the previous eight at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida.
• John Fussell leads the Hatters with a .364 batting average, adding a team second-best .455 slugging percentage on a single home run. He has also tallied nine RBI and scored four runs.
• The Hatters were swept over the weekend in a series against visiting Creighton.
Up Next for B-CU
Bethune-Cookman plays host to Florida Gulf Coast in a three-game series beginning Friday, March 4, at 6 p.m. All games will take place inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
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