Birmingham, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman Baseball makes its SWAC postseason debut as the Wildcats prepare for a matchup with the West's No. 2 seed, Grambling State, Wednesday, May 25 at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST. Local weather forecasts are not promising, but stay tuned to @BCUDiamondcats on Twitter for the latest updates.

All tournament games will be broadcast live on the SWAC Digital Network. 
 
Game Information

Wednesday, May 25
Opponent: Grambling State  (24-29, 20-10 SWAC)
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Location: Birmingham, Ala. | Regions Field
Live Stats: https://bamastatesports.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary;team=away
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRG2H2EVrDY2bWYqnS8atRg
 
 
A Season in Review
 
The Wildcats had a mountain to climb entering the 2022 baseball season. The program emerged from the dark of a season and a half lost due to COVID-19 with only eight returning players and a brand-new conference in front of them. In their first year in the SWAC, the Wildcats finished with 19-11 record, including eight conference series wins and a pair of series sweeps.

Head Coach Jonathan Hernandez commanded a roster of only five upperclassmen, bolstered by the No. 48 ranked JUCO class in the country. Of those eight returners, only four were regular starters.

Hernandez demanded excellence from his Wildcats, scheduling non-conference contests against established programs and nationally ranked squads including LSU, Florida, FSU, and Miami.

The team proved competitive against the highest competition, taking only one-run losses to LSU and UF, as well as grabbing quality wins against Stetson and Jacksonville.

Hernandez's Wildcats were characterized by pitching and defense, finishing at or near the top of the SWAC in categories such as ERA, strikeouts, and fielding percentage.

The Wildcats had a lot to prove in the 2022 season. They have already shown that they belong in the SWAC. Now, they must show that the SWAC belongs to them.
 
Scouting the Tigers
 
Grambling State finished 24-29 this season, and 20-10 in SWAC play. The Tigers enter the SWAC tournament off of a three-game series sweep of the lowly Lions of Arkansas – Pine Bluff.
 
The Tigers fielded a fiery offense in the SWAC's West division. In the regular season, they hit .315 as a team with 55 homers and 440 RBI.  Catcher John Garcia leads his team at the plate with a .403 average, 10 homers and 63 RBI.  
 
Grambling State's pitching staff struggled to the tune of a 7.13 ERA in the regular season. In 440 innings, they allowed 46 homers, walked 277, and struck out 447. Their premier starter, Shemar Page, was one of a few bright spots for their pitching staff.
 
The Starters
 
Louis Lipthratt, the Friday night stalwart for the Wildcats all season long, will take the ball as the Wildcats open the 2022 SWAC Tournament. Lipthratt lead B-CU starters in ERA, fewest runs allowed, fewest extra-base hits allowed, and batting average against. He earned five wins as a starter – but the Wildcats won 9 of 13 games in which he started.
 
The Tigers will likely throw Shemar Page to open their tournament run. The right-hander emerged as one of the best arms in the conference in the regular season. He finished the season 8-4 with a 2.56 ERA in 95 innings pitched, striking out a conference-best 135 batters.
 
All-Time Series
 
The first matchup between the two programs this season marks the second ever meeting between Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman baseball. The Tigers took the lone meeting of the two teams, 5-3, back on February 25, 2011.   
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics) and www.bcuathletics.com.