DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman baseball returns to the diamond this weekend as the Wildcats get set to host Stony Brook to open the 2025 season, this weekend at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

First pitch of the 2025 season is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at The Jack, with games two and three set for 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Admission is free. Games will be streamed live at YouTube.com/CatEye Network. 



Friday-Sunday, February 14-16
Opponent: Stony Brook (24-28, 12-15 CAA)
Time: 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 1 p.m. EST 
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Watch: Youtube.com/Cateyenetwork
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary



Bethune-Cookman ended the 2024 season 32-27, finishing just one game out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title game after a 4-2 loss to Jackson State in Atlanta. 

Four Wildcats were named All-SWAC following the 2024 season in Friday night arm Tanner Boccabello, closer Pablo Torres, first baseman Manny Souffrain, and DH Jose Gonzalez. Only Gonzalez graduated out of the program in the spring, with Boccabello, Torres, and Souffrain set to return to the diamond for B-CU in 2025. 

Boccabello, Torres, and Souffrain, along with outfielder Sergio Rivera, were named Preseason All-SWAC by conference head coaches and sports information directors, with the prior three also receiving all-conference preseason honors by Perfect Game. Incoming infielder Jesus Vanegas out of Tallahassee Community College also received an all-conference preseason nod from Perfect Game.

The B-CU baseball program notably received top-30 votes by the NCBWA in its preseason DI college baseball poll. 

The Cats welcome in 18 newcomers to the fold this season, while returning three of their top four arms in innings pitched and just under 50 percent of their run production from a year ago. 



Stony Brook ended its 2024 season 24-28 and 12-15 in Colonial Athletic Association play. That left the Seawolves in eighth in their conference standings, falling short of the conference tournament.

Stony Brook particularly struggled on the road, finishing just 8-16 away from Joe Nathan Field. 

Last season, the Seawolves finished dead last in the CAA in batting, hitting just .261 as a team with 258 RBI and a .359 OBP. They hit a conference-low 26 homers with a .366 slugging percentage. Their best offensive weapon, Matt Brown-Eiring, hit .312 with six homers, 43 RBI, and only 31 strikeouts on the year. He graduated out of the program in the spring. 

Defensively, Stony Brook fared much better, sitting middle of the conference pack with a team ERA of 5.54 with 277 walks to 327 strikeouts on the season. Right-hander Eddie Smink led the way for the Seawolves, earning Preseason All-CAA honors after leading hsi team in wins (5), ERA (3.11), strikeouts (56), and batting average against (.215). He was named an All-American by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Perfect Game, and the NCBWA, as well as CAA Rookie of the Year. His teammate, lefty Erik Paulsen, also landed in the All-CAA squad. The closer finished last season with six saves and a 3.21 ERA. 

• The Wildcats have won over 30 games in back-to-back seasons.
• Tanner Boccabello was also named Preseason SWAC Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game
• Pablo Torres was ranked at the #30 relief pitcher in all of college baseball, according to DI Baseball

Stony Brook and B-CU have never met on the baseball diamond in the history of the two programs. 


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