DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Wildcats play ball for the first time in 709 days as Bethune-Cookman baseball returns to play this weekend, welcoming in Youngstown State for a three game opening series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
Series Information
 
Friday-Sunday, Feb 18-20
Opponent: Youngstown State (0-0, 0-0 Horizon League)
Time: 7 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 12 p.m.
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. / Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Live Stats:  https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/BethuneCookman-Baseball-tickets/artist/1394853
 
Back to "The Jack"
 
B-CU has not taken the field since March 11, 2020 at Florida International University. The season was then cut short, and the Wildcats opted out of athletic competition in 2021, marking 709 days since the last pitch of B-CU baseball. It has been one extra day since the Wildcats took the field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach in a game against Fairfield.
 
Wildcats head coach Jonathan Hernandez has his team ready to go for 2022.
 
"It's great to finally have the opportunity to compete with our team," Hernandez said. "I'm excited about what the future holds for our program. We're excited to finally play somebody other than ourselves."
 
Ready for Non-Conference
 
The Wildcats open the 2022 non-conference schedule with eight straight games at home. After taking on Youngstown State this weekend, the Wildcats welcome in FIU on Tuesday night, followed by a weekend series with Florida Gulf Coast and a midweek matchup with Jacksonville.
 
The Wildcats will not leave the state of Florida until March 11, taking on Sacred Heart and Stetson in DeLand, as well as UCF back in Daytona before finally heading on the road to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. The Wildcats will close out non-conference play at Florida State.
 
"I think we put together a tough non-conference schedule – probably one of the toughest in our conference," Coach Hernandez said. "We just want to use our non-conference schedule to get ready and compete in conference and eventually put us in a position to play for a SWAC championship."
 
Building B-CU
 
The Wildcats return eight players from a season ago. Nolan Santos, Alec Mendez, and Knickolas Billings return to the pitching staff, Colton Olasin, Matthew Garcia anchor the infield, Jan Reyes returns to the B-CU outfield, Boris Peña returns behind the plate, and Franki Febles will provide versatility for the Wildcats.
 
Hernandez also brings in the 48-ranked junior college recruiting class in the country, according to JBB
 
"We are going to be built on pitching and defense," Hernandez said. "I think that experience that we brought in with our junior college recruiting class is going to pay dividends down the road."
 
The Rotation This Weekend
 
Three newcomers will take the ball for the Wildcats this weekend. Louis Lipthratt gets the ball Friday night as B-CU opens the season. The right-hander joins the Wildcats from Clarke State Community College, where he finished 3-2 in nine starts with 58 strikeouts and a 4.46 ERA in 38 innings.
 
"We're looking for Louis to give us some length on Friday nights," Hernandez said. "He's a guy that's going to give us a chance and throw a lot of strikes. He'll be able to handle the atmosphere of opening night."
 
Lefty Gabriel White will take the mound on Saturday. The 6'3" southpaw most recently saw action with East Georgia State College.
 
"Gabriel has done a phenomenal job throughout the course of the fall and through to the spring to solidify his role as a Saturday starter," Hernandez said.
 
The Wildcats turn to right-hander Joan Gonzalez on Sunday. He appeared primarily as a reliever a season ago at Highland Community College, where he appeared in 38.1 innings with 58 strikeouts.

"What Gonzalez brings to the table is his energy," Hernandez said. "He doesn't let the moment get too big on him, and he's got an opportunity to light up the radar gun.
 

Scouting the Penguins


Youngstown State enters the 2022 season off of their winningest season in 26 years, when the Penguins finished 32-24 – their first winning season since 2005. The Penguins return 24 players from last season's roster. The Penguins saw four All-Horizon League players depart from a season ago, including 2021 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year Collin Floyd.
 
Youngstown State will start three upperclassmen right-handers on the mound this weekend. Senior Jon Snyder, the 2021 All-Horizon selection and 2022 Preseason Horizon League Pitcher of the Year gets the ball opening night. Senior Travis Perry will start Saturday night, while junior Matt Brosky will get the ball on Sunday afternoon.
 
Outfielder Dominick Bucko leads the Penguins at the plate, after batting .344 and slugging .600 in 2021 with eight doubles, four triples, 10 homers, and 53 RBI's. He and infielder Braeden O'Shaughnessy were each named to the Horizon League Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
All-Time Series
 
This weekend will mark the first time that Bethune-Cookman and Youngstown State have met in the history of the two programs.
 
 
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