DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman hosts Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Savannah State for a three-game league baseball series this weekend, beginning Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m. Saturday will consist of a doubleheader, while Sunday's game will be a single game at 1 p.m.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the Daytona Tortuga, Bethune-Cookman hosts Savannah State at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in nearby Ormond Beach, Florida.
The Wildcats have lost five consecutive matches on the spin, but enter the weekend working on a 4-5 mark min MEAC play. B-CU has won its last two series, including taking two-of-three from North Carolina A&T two weeks ago at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Likewise, Savannah State comes to Volusia County working on a similar 4-5 record in the conference. The Tigers dropped two-of-three against Florida A&M at home, but bounced back in their last series to defeat North Carolina A&T in two-of-three games in Savannah, Georgia. Mixed in-between, the Tigers dropped the Saturday doubleheader at North Carolina Central.
AT A GLANCE
Records: Bethune-Cookman 11-19 (4-5 MEAC) | Savannah State 9-21 (4-5 MEAC)
Rankings: Bethune-Cookman is unranked. Savannah State is unranked.
On The Web: BCUathletics.com • Twitter: @BCUDiamondCats, @JasonBeverlin
PROMOTIONS
Saturday/Sunday
- There are no promotions from Bethune-Cookman for the series against Savannah State.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN VS. SAVANNAH STATE PROBABLE STARTERS
SATURDAY, APRIL 9 (1 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP German Hernandez (3-2, 4.46 ERA)
Savannah State
RHP Austin Robinson (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
SATURDAY, APRIL 9 (4 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Tyler Norris (3-2, 7.28 ERA)
Savannah State
RHP Ryan McCranie (1-2, 1.50 ERA)
SUNDAY, APRIL 10 (1 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Alex Seibold (1-4, 6.95 ERA)
Savannah State
LHP Trevor McKenna (1-3, 4.60 ERA)
Bethune-Cookman-Savannah State Series History
• Last season, Bethune-Cookman took four-of-six games on the year from Savannah State.
• The Wildcats swept the first series between the two teams in Daytona Beach, while the Tigers came back to win the second series after dropping the opening game of a doubleheader.
• Three of the games last season were decided by a single run, including B-CU completing the series sweep on a wild pitch at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
• Savannah State ended Bethune-Cookman's MEAC Championship title run at seven (7) in 2013, behind the pitching of MEAC Pitcher of the Year Kyle McGowin's complete-game effort in the title series.
• That same season, the two teams split the two series played as the visiting teams took the victories.
Noting the Wildcats
• Junior catcher/designated hitter Michael Cruz leads the MEAC with 10 home runs on the year.
• Senior left fielder Rakeem Quinn has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games, and Cruz has reached safely in his last 10 games.
• Cruz and Quinn sit tied atop the team standings with 10 multi-hit games this season. Sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney is just behind them with nine.
• Bethune-Cookman is 10-1 when leading after six innings this season. However, the Wildcats are just 1-16 when trailing after the sixth frame.
• Redshirt junior Clay Middleton leads the squad and sits in the top-10 of the league with a .342 batting average. Middleton has pounded out 15 RBI, while also delivering two doubles and two home runs.
• Despite a loss in his last contest, senior pitcher Alex Seibold leads all Wildcats starters in ERA against league opponents, using a 5.17 earned run average in three starts.
Up Next for B-CU
Bethune-Cookman returns to the road for a single game at FIU in Miami on Wednesday, April 13, at 3 p.m.
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