DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - SWAC play has arrive for Bethune-Cookman baseball as the Wildcats welcome in the Braves of Alcorn State for their first ever meeting as conference opponents, and their first meeting since 2011. 

Game one of a three-game series is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday, March 14. The remaining two games of the weekend are subject to time changes with the potential for inclement weather in Daytona Beach. 



Friday-Sunday, March 14-16
Opponent: Alcorn State (2-11)
Time: 7:00 | 6:00 | 1:00
Location: Daytona Beach, FL | Jackie Robinson Ballpark 
Watch/Listen: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary



Jacksonville University broke open a tight contest with a four-run ninth inning, powering past Bethune-Cookman 6-3 in non-conference baseball action Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Park.
 
Jacksonville (9-7) was paced by Blake Delamielleure's three-run homer in the decisive ninth inning, part of his 2-for-4 night that included three RBIs and a double. The visiting Dolphins collected 12 hits while holding the Wildcats to just five in the mid-week matchup.
 
Anthony Cordero (2-0) earned the win in relief for Jacksonville despite allowing a run in the ninth, while Nick Anello recorded the final two outs for his fourth save of the season. Yoansell Diaz (0-1) took the loss for Bethune-Cookman after surrendering four runs on six hits in the ninth – his first action of the year after coming back from an offseason injury.
 
It would be JU to strike first in the opening frame.
 
Second baseman Jonah Shields singled and eventually scored on an error for an unearned run against Bethune-Cookman starter Logan Wirt, also seeing his first action of the year for the Wildcats.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the sixth inning when Sammy Mummau launched a solo home run to left field, extending the Dolphins' lead to 2-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman (7-10) answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame when let fielder Christopher Watson, a native of Ridgeland, Mississippi, singled and Darryl Lee followed at the top of the order with an RBI triple – his second of the season, down the right field line. An Andrey Martinez groundout brought Lee home, knotting the contest at 2-2.
 
The game stayed deadlocked until Jacksonville's explosive ninth.
 
With one out, Dolphins centerfielder Jaden Bastian singled, followed by Shields' single right back up the middle. Josh Steidl drove in Bastian with a single to right field before Delamielleure delivered the three-run homer to left center that pushed the lead to 6-2.
 
The Cats mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth when designated hitter Jose Fernandez walked, and later advanced on a wild pitch, before then scoring on Sergio Rivera's infield single. However, Anello entered to record the final two outs and secure the victory for the visitors.
 
Jacksonville used seven pitchers on the night, with starter Alex Walsh tossing two scoreless innings while striking out three. The Wildcats employed five hurlers, with Robert Lastra providing the most effective outing (3.1 innings, one hit, no runs).
 
Shields led all players with three hits in five trips to the plate while scoring twice for JU.
 
Lee had the lone extra-base hit for B-CU with his RBI triple.



Alcorn State is 2-11 on the year, with both wins coming last weekend in a non-conference series against Alabama A&M. The Braves pounded the Bulldogs by final scores of 15-12 and 21-11. 

The Braves were picked to finish 11th/12 in the preseason SWAC poll as voted on by SWAC head coaches and sports information directors. 

Alcorn State ranks eighth in the SWAC offensively, hitting .266 as a team with 70 runs scored, 1 homer, and 56 walks to 105 strikeouts. Nathan gamez leads the way at the plate, hitting .447 in 13 starts on the year with 11 RBI. 

On the mound, Alcorn State has struggled to the tune of a ERA of over 12 as a team, with 66 strikeouts to 111 walks as a staff. 

• The Wildcats lead the SWAC home runs, hit-by-pitch, strikeout-to-walk ratio, triples, and walks per nine.
• Saturday starter Joel Core leads the conference in strikeouts, ranking 11th nationally in the category. 

Friday will mark just the third meeting between Alcorn State and Bethune-Cookman on the diamond - their first since 2011, when the Wildcats split a doubleheader with the Braves at Bethune Point Park. It is the first meeting between the two teams as conference opponents after the SWAC did away with East/West division designations in the 2024 offseason. 


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