Two State of Florida’s HBCU archrivals Edward Waters University and Florida Memorial University open this weekend with a three-game series beginning Friday with a single nine-inning game and a doubleheader concluding Saturday at the Henry L. Aaron Field at J.P Small Memorial Stadium, home of Edward Waters baseball and a Negro League Museum in Jacksonville, Florida.
Since the start of this rivalry, both programs have played the games like they’re competing for a conference championship.
Last season, Florida Memorial won two games from the Tigers in Jacksonville. EWU looks to return the favor this weekend before the Lions hosts the Tigers in Miami April 5th in a scheduled mid-week doubleheader.
Both teams have split the last 14 games dating back to February 9, 2015. The Lions have the longest winning streak at four games from 4/13/2016 – 4/20/2016. In 2016, Edward Waters finished the regular season 31-13 overall, with a 12-2 record in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC).
Florida Memorial’s tough conference schedule includes five members in the SUN Conference are either ranked in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll or receiving votes and receive postseason play in the NAIA National Tournament. Last season the Lions competed in the inaugural Black College World Series, the site of the 2022 national event.
Offensively, EWU is off to a slow start and struggling. The Tigers are 4-10 coming into the HBCU Rivalry. Last weekend the Tigers took two of three games from Marian University playing a rare tripleheader.
In its last ten games, Edward Waters is 3-7. Scoring runs are hard to come by. The bright side at the plate, sophomore Anthony Roman .367 and freshman Luis Rodriguez .333 batting average leads the team in the statistical categories. Leonel Garcia team leading eight runs batted in.
On the mound, the Tigers are led by sophomore Will Valenti, (2-1) with a 4.41 earned run average in 16.1 innings pitched. In the Tigers loses, the starters are not receiving run support and the defense has committed 27 errors in 16 games played. Both starters and relivers will be called upon in this series.
Florida Memorial (7-5) enters the weekend on a three-game losing streak including a 6-2 mid-week non-conference loss to University of Fort Lauderdale this past week. The Lions carried a one run lead into the ninth inning before pitching allowed five runs to cross the plate.
Besides the three-game series with Edward Waters, FMU still have 13 remaining conference games against top ranked neighbor St. Thomas University, Keiser University, and Southeastern University.
At the plate, Javier Rohandry leads hitters through the first twelve games of the season hitting .436 with eight runs batted in. Yunior Sanchez .375 six extra base hits while knocking in ten runs. Alex Gomez is hitting .349 on the season with ten runs driven in. Nathan Harris one home run and ten runs driven across the plate.
On the pitching side, starters Max Charnin (2-0) a 1.06 earned run average in 17.0 innings on the mound with 20 strikeouts. Aubrey Yarbrough (1-0) and William Hiciano in three starts (1-1). Lions’ relievers have struggled at times this season, but they have some signature wins against Keiser opening day this past Feb. 2 defeating the Seahawks 9-6 and Warner 8-5 Feb. 18.
Edward Waters is transitioning to a NCAA Division II program joining the SIAC conference. It would be sad if these two baseball programs did not renew their HBCU in-state rivalry every year. Over the years, watched a lot of great ballgames between both schools.
Looking forward to the series this weekend! Let’s go lions!!!!