1Daytona Beach, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman baseball faces a huge series of SWAC play at "The Jack" this weekend as the 3-0 Wildcats host the 3-0 Hornets of Alabama State. The series gets underway Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
Game Information

Friday-Sunday, March 25-27
Opponent: Alabama State (11-10, 3-0 SWAC)
Time: 7 p.m. / 6 p.m. / 1 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
 
Last Time Out
 
The Wildcats took their second-one run loss to a nationally-ranked opponent this season Tuesday night at #8 Florida. The Gators marked the Wildcats third different ranked opponent this season after matchups with LSU and FSU earlier this season.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Malik Stephens caught the Gators off guard with a straight steal of home. B-CU added a second run on the third when Boris Peña sent a bouncing ball through the left side of the infield to score Matthew Garcia.  
The Gators took the lead late with a solo homer in the seventh. B-CU put a runner on third in the ninth with only one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended any hopes of the walkoff.
 
 
Scouting the Hornets
 
Alabama State is 11-10 this season, and one of only three SWAC teams to sweep the opening weekend of conference play. The Hornets swept Florida A&M, outscoring the Rattlers, 30-3 in the three games. Alabama State took a midweek loss at Troy, 11-1 Tuesday night.
 
The Hornets are batting .289 as a team – the second-best mark in the SWAC. Infielder Corey King leads the Hornets with 22 RBI, 5 homers, and a 1.023 OPS. Outfielder Angel Jiminez is batting .407 with three homers and 21 RBI.

The Alabama State pitching staff has combined for a 5.17 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. They have struck out 179 and walked 97.
 
The Starters
 
B-CU will roll with the same rotation as last weekend with Louis Lipthratt, Nolan Santos, and Hector Vazquez scheduled tor throw for the Wildcats. The three combined to throw 18 innings, allowing nine runs on 17 hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts across three starts

Alabama State will send Breon Pooler, Kyler McIntosh, and Austin King – three right-handers - to the mound in that order this weekend.
 
Pooler has been a workhorse for the Hornets. In 30 innings, he has allowed only three runs. He has struck out 35 and walked 11. He is allowing less than one baserunner per inning.
 
McIntosh has compiled a 6.39 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP in just over 25 innings. Batters are hitting .274 against him.
 
King's ERA sits at 3.48 with a 1.45 WHIP in 20.2 innings. He has struggled a bit more with walks, allowing 16 free passes this season to only 14 hits.
 
All-Time Series
 
This weekend is the first time in the history of the two programs that Alabama State and B-CU will meet on the baseball diamond.
 
Notes

• Matthew Garcia has been outstanding for B-CU in the clutch – he is batting .438 with runners on base and .333 with the bases loaded. When leading off innings, he is batting .550.
• Christopher Patterson, who sits second on the Wildcats with a .306 batting average, has hits in 6 of ten at bats when leading off an inning.
• As a team, the Wildcats are batting .359 when leading off innings.
• B-CU is tied for the SWAC lead in fielding percentage at .965
• Knickolas Billings has served as an excellent stopper out of the bullpen for B-CU. Opposing batters are hitting only .107 with runners on base.

 

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