Black College Nines looks at all the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) “small school” division baseball programs as we summarize each team’s 2024 year-to-date mid-season performance. The report identifies which teams are having early season struggles and success in conference from the first halvf surprises and those surpassing expectations which will have national implication for the Black College World Series this spring in Montgomery, AL.
Report covers games through March 24, 2024:
Albany State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 19-7
Albany State is projected to win the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) title. Front-loaded a very tough non-conference schedule against top-notch NCAA Division II programs. No. 1 team in HBCU Baseball “small school” and hold a regional ranking from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Arkansas Baptist University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 2-8
The week of March 19, won two ball games over the University of Health and Science. Many of ABU’s scheduled games have been cancelled.
Benedict College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 9-10
Benedict’s entire team has made an immediate impact. Aggressive on the base paths, speed, fielding, pitching depth and team chemistry. Up to their customary base stealing antics as “the greatest show on dirt”. Started the season winning games. Now they are slumping a bit.
Bluefield State College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 14-8
As the season progresses, pitching from relievers is keeping them in games. Appear good at times and bad at other times. On pace to eclipse last season’s program best 25 wins.
Claflin University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 1-27
The team lacks hitting and producing runs along with pitching.
Clark Atlanta University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 6-22
Pitching was supposed to have an immediate impact, but the pitching staff and position players have not produced. Played well against SIAC conference member Spring Hill losing two games by one run and one by two runs the weekend of March 23.
Dillard University (LA)
2024 Mid-Season Record: 7-20
Pitching was supposed to have an immediate impact after working hard during fall ball, but the entire pitching staff has become a liability. Sophomore jinx in their second season.
Edward Waters University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 16-12
Going into the season, big things were expected in 2024 for a club that returned nearly its entire roster. The pitching rotation so far has been okay from starters to middle relievers. When it comes to scoring runs, the Tigers are inconsistent leaving runners stranded in scoring position. But they are poised to return to the SIAC tournament.
Florida Memorial University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 15-9
Playing well this season. Beat some nationally ranked teams…NAIA No. 12 Keiser University earlier this season taking three of four games. Face 95+ mph pitching from teams within The SUN Conference. The biggest weakness is consistency from batters. Good starters and relievers on the hill to cover their schedule.
Harris-Stowe State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 1-15
Shocking. Period.
Huston-Tillotson University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 11-15
Playing well in spurts. Started the season off hot. But the bats have cooled in the Texas heat. If they can get back to their winning ways, H-TU could make the RRAC conference tournament down the stretch to finish the season.
Jarvis Christian University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 13-10
A good pitching staff has kept Jarvis in ball games, but the prospects of a good offense, coming into the season, has been suspect and underperforming. Not winning close ball games and not having a big run producer have contributed to some tough losses.
Kentucky State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 11-17
Injuries have hampered Kentucky State starters. But the 11 wins is nothing to take lightly.
Lane College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 11-17
Lane lacks consistency in hitting, pitching and fielding. I predict Lane will surprise teams in the SIAC conference tournament though. Has a good head coach in Donny Crawford who is a proven winner.
LeMoyne-Owen College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 1-18
LeMoyne won its first game of the season over Edward Waters 2-1 on March 23.
Oakwood University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 3-20
Second year of the baseball program. Biggest weakness…short on power at the plate and short on solid pitching.
Lincoln University, PA
2024 Mid-Season Record: 6-12
Lincoln is doing well under interim head coach Vince Conner. The Lions play a tough out of conference schedule each year against teams from Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), and the East Coast Conference (ECC), “all pretty tough conferences” as well as opponents from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). This year’s team is competing.
Miles College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 15-14
Miles hired a former Division I head baseball coach in Milton Barney. The first-year coach has set the team up to be a big factor in what appears to be a wide open SIAC conference race as many players are batting above (.300). SIAC conference record is 12-5.
Morehouse College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 12-18
Another surprise team of the 2024 season. Timely hitting pushes runners across the plate, and starting pitching is leading to victories. I think this team is very capable of playing for an SIAC conference title.
Morris College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 4-12
The team is playing better in 2024 compared to most recent years when their season started in mid to late March. Expect them to compete and knock off some good HBCU baseball programs.
Paine College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 7-10
Lions starters on the mound and its middle relievers have made late inning leads stand up. Pitchers worked hard during the most recent win. Relievers pick each other up and do not allow inherited runners to score. Short-fall… not enough players on the roster.
Rust College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 8-22
The Bearcats are in a rebuilding year with a crop of freshmen. The expectation was high coming into the season. Surprise team of the 2024 when they were expected to repeat as regular season GCAC champions.
Philander Smith College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 1-18
Program’s second year in existence. Well-coached team has been in every game they’ve played. Getting used to the collegiate game.
Savannah State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 18-6
Young players were recruited into the program. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. But the Tigers are off to a good start this season. Eighteen wins is a good sign. Pitching well with run support fueled by a veteran presence on the mound has help competition winning games within the SIAC conference. A 13-5 conference record.
Southern University at New Orleans
2024 Mid-Season Record: 8-12
SUNO’s 8-12 record is not bad for a first-year baseball program which includes 4-4 in GCAC play. Wins came because they have been able to generate offense with their bats. Could surprise the conference at the end of the 2024 season.
Stillman College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 9-19
Second year in a row started the season winning ball games. As the season progresses, they fizzle. Play in the tough Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). Will move to the GCAC after this season.
Talladega College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 17-12
Talladega is one of the best NAIA HBCU baseball programs. Plays 20 to 25 games against top ranked teams nationally including those in the HBCU ranks. Recent move back to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). They could dominate and win the conference title. Tough non-conference schedule makes them battle tested because they win those games.
Texas College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 0-18
The Steers looking to win their first ball game of the season. Hard sale competing in the rugged Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC).
Tougaloo College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 8-25
A shortage of arms from starters and relievers to cover its schedule, plus inconsistent hitting has contributed to Tougaloo’s losing record.
Tuskegee University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 7-18
The Golden Tiger are experiencing growing pains as they mature to finish out the season.
Virginia State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 8-13
Expectations were high for Virginia State coming into the 2024 season. Inconsistency in hitting, fielding, and pitching… but expect the second half to produce a winning record.
Voorhees College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 9-17
Under Head Coach Norman O’Neal, Voorhees has already almost doubled last year’s win total. Team is finding ways to win games which have yielded early season success.
West Virginia State University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 12-9
West Virginia State is just starting to get into the meat of its schedule. The Yellow Jackets have faced a tough non-conference schedule and competition will also be strong within the conference.
Wilberforce University Wiley College
2024 Mid-Season Record: 6-14
The Wilberforce University Bulldogs have patience at the plate with a strong showing so far in the 2024 season. Even in games they have lost, Wilberforce has played well. WU is 4-0 in the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC). With consistency, they will win games the remaining part of the season.
Wiley University
2024 Mid-Season Record: 14-13
Wiley has found good pitching with consistency. The team has overcome early season stumbles and is starting to play well with consistency at the plate for a young athletic and fast team. Currently on an 11-game winning streak, Wiley swept all three of its GCAC series and leads the conference with a 9-0 record.
Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)
2024 Mid-Season Record: 10-15
Big things were expected in 2024 for the Gold Rush. Hitting and pitching have been decent at times. The pitching rotation has had question marks from starters to middle relievers. When it comes to scoring runs, in the 15 loses, leaving runners stranded in scoring position has hurt this ball club. But they are poised to make a strong second half run.