Daytona Beach, Fla. – After four straight games against nationally-ranked opponents, SWAC conference play finally begins this weekend as the Wildcats welcome in Jackson State for three games this weekend. The series begins Friday, May 18 for the first of three noon starts at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Game Information
Friday-Sunday, March 18-20
Opponent: Jackson State (10-7, 0-0 SWAC)
Time: 12 p.m. (all three games)
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Live Stats:
https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Last Time Out
The Wildcats were defeated, 17-9 in Tallahassee Wednesday night by #8 Florida State. The Wildcats played a back-and-forth game early, trailing 4-3 and 8-5, but the Seminoles' offense exploded, and B-CU could not keep up.
Lake Fisher crushed a ball in the ninth inning over the right field wall – the Wildcat's fifth homer of the year – to score three.
Scouting the Tigers
Jackson State is 10-7 this season. Last time they took the field, the Tigers took a 16-6 loss to the ACC's Georgia Tech. JSU's non-conference schedule featured teams like Tougaloo College, Butler, and Nicholls State.
Jackson State his batting .258 as a team with a .757 OPS. They have stolen 43 bases on 52 attempts. Outfielder El'Rico Riley has 16 RBi and two homers to go along with a .963 OPS. He has also made three appearances on the mound, allowing one earned run in seven innings.
JSU pitchers have combined for a 4.04 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. They have struck out 163 over 142.2 innings.
The Starters
Familiar faces will see the mound on Friday and Saturday for B-CU.
Louis Lipthratt goes Friday after going 4.2 innings at LSU, allowing six runs on six hits – he leads the Wildcats in innings pitched.
Nolan Santos gets the ball Saturday. He allowed five runs on six hits over five innings at LSU. Sunday's starter is TBA
All-Time Series
This weekend will mark the first time Jackson State and B-CU have met on the diamond in the history of the two programs.
Notes
- Matthew Garcia has the second-most hits in the SWAC with 22.
- The Wildcats are the second-best fielding team in the SWAC with a .962 fielding percentage.
- The Wildcats have forced the second-most double plays in the conference.
- Opposing baserunners have struggled mightily with the Wildcats' defense. Opponents have stolen bases at only a .500 clip this season – the best mark in the SWAC. The Wildcats have allowed only seven stolen bases while swiping 31 bags of their own.
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--#HailWildcats--
