With conference play underway, there were some big matchups this weekend. This weekend’s slate provided plenty of action. Here’s what went down.
No. 4 Wiley University (19-12) (11-4) HBCUAC
versus
RV Voorhees University (13-8) (10-8) HBCUAC
- Wiley has one of the most talented lineups in the HBCU Athletic Conference, with Voorhees close behind.
- While Wiley features several strong hitters, this year’s team is primarily defined by its exceptional pitching.
- The Wildcats won two out of three games against the Tigers, with scores of 3-1 and 9-5, although both games could have easily gone in Voorhees’ favor.
- However, Voorhees rebounded by securing a 7-3 victory.
No. 2 Savannah State University (15-8) (13-5) SIAC
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No. 6 Edward Waters University (17-13) (11-7) SIAC
- In what is shaping up to be the best SIAC series so far, No. 2 Savannah State and No. 6 Edward Waters faced off this weekend at Tigers Field in Savannah, GA.
- Both teams have had a strong start to the season, and this series presents a significant challenge for each of them.
- Since the hiring of head coach Florentino Burgos, the Tigers have been performing exceptionally well.
- Edward Waters won 2 out of 3 games, but a few lucky breaks could have turned the series in Savannah State’s favor.
- Overall, both teams are on track for postseason play.
RV Southern University at New Orleans (13-12) (11-4) HBCUAC
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Stillman College (12-15) (11-7) HBCUAC
- As luck would have it, two newcomers faced off in a key HBCUAC series this weekend. From my perspective, this might be the most underrated series on the schedule.
- The SUNO Knights had a seven-game winning streak this season, and a crucial factor for their success has been figuring out the optimal roles for each pitcher. Head coach Olen Parker has effectively managed this in conference games.
- On the other hand, the upstart Stillman Tigers are also performing well, having won 2 out of 3 games in their recent matches.
No. 1 Jackson State University (14-9 (2-4) SWAC
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No. 4 Bethune Cookman University (12-12) (5-1) SWAC
- I explored Jackson State in detail a few weeks ago, so I won’t spend too much time on them now. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention their impressive start to the season. Have they since tailed off, or have other teams in the SWAC caught up to them?
- However, Bethune-Cookman won 2 out of 3 games against the Tigers.
- There’s a lot of talk about how there are no easy weekends in the SWAC, and this is a prime example of that being the case after BCU defeated No. 1 JSU.
No. 3 Miles College (16-11-1) (11-5) SIAC
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Unranked Tuskegee University (11-17) (8-10) SIAC
- Tuskegee baseball achieved an impressive victory over Miles College, winning 15-6 in the series opener and upsetting the No. 3 ranked team.
- The Golden Tigers concluded their weekend rivalry series with a doubleheader, resulting in a split against conference opponent Miles on Saturday.
- With this 2-1 series win, Tuskegee improved their overall record to 11-17. If they continue to play like they did this weekend, Tuskegee is undoubtedly on the rise.