Daytona Beach, Fla. – Bitter rivals clash in Daytona Beach this weekend as the Wildcats will look to secure their fourth-straight SWAC series win when Florida A&M comes to town. This weekend's games will be hosted at nearby Bethune Point to avoid opening weekend conflicts with the Daytona Tortugas.
 
Game Information

Friday-Sunday, April 8-10
Opponent: Florida A&M (12-18, 6-3 SWAC)
Time: 7:00 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Bethune Point
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
 
Last Time Out
 
The Wildcats took two of three from Mississippi Valley State last weekend, including a series-opening win in extra innings, a 3-2 loss in game 2, and a 17-13 win in a slugfest finale.
 
This week, Louis Lipthratt took home SWAC Player of the Week honors after a Friday night performance that saw him throw 8.1 innings, allowing no earned run on one hit, one walk, and seven strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats took a break from midweek action after rescheduling this week's game with FIU for April 26.
 
Scouting the Rattles
 
The Rattlers are 12-18 this season with a 6-3 record in SWAC play. Last weekend, the Rattlers swept Alabama A&M on the road, outscoring the Bulldogs, 24-9 in three games. On Tuesday, the Rattlers fell to the Gators in Gainesville, 13-3.
 
The Rattlers are batting .247 as a team wit a .668 OPS. They have nine homers and 130 RBI, led by senior first baseman Grand Rowell, who has 20 RBI with a pair of homers and a .340 average.  Left fielder Ty Hanchey sites close behind with a .874 OPS, 17 RBI, and a homer.
 
The FAMU pitching staff has combined for a 6.73 ERA this season with a 1.86 WHIP. They have struck out 236 in 250 innings. FAMU has 53 errors as a team.
 
The Starters
 
DefenDing SWAC Pitcher of the Week Louis Lipthratt will take the ball Friday night looking to build on an outstanding start in Mississippi.
 
Nolan Santos will follow on Saturday. He ranks near the top of the SWAC with 43 strikeouts this season.
 
Hector Vazquez will take the ball on Sunday. He avoided the loss at MVSU last weekend after a bad luck outing where he allowed 10 runs - only three earned - in 3.2 innings on six hits, three walks, and six strikeouts.
 
All-Time Series
 
This weekend will mark the 56^th time in the history of the rivalry that B-CU and FAMU meet on the field. B-CU leads the all-time series, 33-22. Last time out, on April 13, 2019, the Wildcats defeated the Rattlers, 6-2, in Tallahassee.
 
Notes

• The longest reached-base streak of the season for B-CU is 14 – Brian Perez and Franki Febles are both approaching that mark at 12 and 13 games, respectively.
• Febles quietly leads the Wildcats in multi-RBI games with five.
• Christopher Patterson has the seventh-best OBP in the SWAC at .481
• The Wildcats have swiped at least three bases in four straight games – their longest such streak of the season
• 14 walks for B-CU on Sunday is tied for the third-most in a game amongst SWAC teams this season.

 
 
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