DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Wildcats will look to take care of business against another SWAC opponent, as they take on the Jackson State Tigers at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Friday's first pitch is set for 7 p.m.



Friday-Sunday, March 27-29
Opponent: Jackson State (12-14, 3-3)
Time: 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork
Listen: https://bcuathletics.com/sports/2024/11/13/Cateye-Network-Radio.aspx
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary

Jacksonville took advantage of early defensive miscues to grab a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After an error extended the frame, the Dolphins delivered back-to-back RBI hits by Sam Grunberg and Conner Spelman. to plate two unearned runs.

The Dolphins added to their lead in the fifth without recording a hit, using a walk, a stolen base, and a pair of Bethune-Cookman errors to push the margin to 3-0.

Bethune-Cookman was held scoreless through the first six innings before breaking through in the seventh. An error put the leadoff runner aboard before a groundout by Erick Almonte brought home the Wildcats' first run. Later in the inning, another defensive miscue and a wild pitch set up a two-run single by Jeter Polledo that tied the game at 3-3.

Jacksonville answered immediately in the bottom half. A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run into scoring position before a Bethune-Cookman error allowed the run to score, giving the Dolphins a 4-3 advantage.

The Wildcats threatened late, putting runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to capitalize as Jacksonville closed out the one-run victory.

The Jackson State Tigers are 3-3 thus far in SWAC play. They opened the slate with a series win over Texas Southern before losing two out of three to Prairie View A&M last weekend.

JSU ranks second in the league in batting average, hitting just under .300 as a team. Senior Pierre Cabral is the team's leader in home runs (5) and RBI (26). Robert Tate Jr. is right behind him with four homers and 20 RBI.

On the pitching side, the Tigers rank in the middle of the pack in ERA, with an 8.03 ERA as a staff. Derek Arrocha leads the team in innings. He is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts. 

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• Edwin Sanchez won SWAC Pitcher of the Week for the third time. He leads the league in innings, wins, ERA, strikeouts, and batting average allowed.
• B-CU starting pitching has recorded all six wins in SWAC play.
• Jeter Polledo has five hits in his last two games. He is currently on a four-game hitting streak.

The Wildcats hold the edge in the all-time series against the Tigers 15-9. They took two of three from JSU last season in Jackson.

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