DI/DII/DIII/NAIA/Baseball
By Michael Coker/Black College Nines
Since the release of the first edition 2015 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll announced by Black College Nines on March 17. HBCUs top ranked teams will square off against each other over the weekend which could alter the ranking landscape.
Top rankings and the action from the field, all the tools to be a big time baseball program, matchup after matchup is now week in and week out.
Six teams with plenty to look forward to. Two Alabama teams are 1 and 2 in the BCN poll and want to secure the top spot rankings. No. 1 Alabama State trip to Bulldog Baseball Field to take on second-ranked Alabama A&M in Montgomery, AL. No. 5 Florida A&M travels to Durham, NC to face #8 North Carolina Central. In the “small school” division, No. 5 Talladega visit JP Small Baseball Field in Jacksonville, FL versus No. 3 Edward Waters. All are conference games and three game series.
Edward Waters received a hic-up this week losing a doubleheader to No. 10 Paine in Augusta, GA. The second game had thrilling theatrics. EWC had a commanding 10-3 lead into the bottom of the six inning. Paine scored 8 earned runs taking an 11-10 lead. EWC scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a run producing single, the other on a bulk regaining the lead 12-11. Paine Fentress Henderson hits a two run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the ball game.
It would not be wise to sleep on either team. These important matchups should have a little bit of everything. It may take a State judge to restore order, at least in the form of rankings.
Not many would have predicted that both Alabama HBCU baseball programs would meet over the weekend atop of the polls. There will be no excuses in Montgomery over the weekend. After this series which team will grow where they want to be.
The No. 2 Bulldogs will have one of their biggest tests of the season this weekend as they host ASU. Alabama A&M are coming off of a 6-3 loss to Abilene Christian Tuesday night, but they had won 9 of their last 12 games before then, including a series conference win against No. 3 Jackson State this past March 14-15.
This weekend is a matchup of who will soar and one that is trying to find its way.
Offensively, Alabama State and Alabama A&M boasts its usual patient, well-coached well-disciplined lineup that leads the SWAC in nearly every statistical category this season. However, AA&M will have their hands full with the one area where the Hornets aren’t lacking, that’s a slight edge in pitching.
Can Alabama State pitching hold up to support the offense? Those pitchers might need to carry the load. They could have their hands full this weekend.
Top 10 Division I
No. 1 Alabama State vs. No. 2 Alabama A&M
No. 3 Jackson State at Mississippi Valley
Grambling State vs. No. 4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
No. 5 Florida A&M vs. No. 8 North Carolina Central
Southern vs. No. 6 Texas Southern
North Carolina A&T vs. No. 7 Savannah State
No. 9 Prairie View vs. Incarnate Word
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. No. 10 Norfolk State
Top 10 Division II/III/NAIA
Chowan vs. No. 1 Virginia State
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. No. 2 Winston-Salem State
No. 5 Talladega vs. No. 3 Edward Waters
Our Lady of the Lake vs. No. 4 Wiley
No. 6 Morehouse vs. Claflin
No. 7 Jarvis Christian vs. Huston-Tillotson
Albany State vs. #8 Benedict
Hannibal-LaGrange vs. No. 9 Harris Stowe State
No. 10 Paine vs. Clark Atlanta
Weekend Games March 20-22
Friday March 20, 2015
(MEAC)
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Bethune-Cookman 6:30 PM
(SWAC)
#9 Prairie View vs. Incarnate Word 6:00 PM
Alcorn State vs. Memphis 6:30 PM
(GCAC)
Voorhees vs. #8 Benedict College 12:00 PM
Voorhees vs. #8 Benedict College Game 2
Tougaloo vs. Mobile 3:00 PM
(AMC)
Hannibal-LaGrange vs. No. 9 Harris-Stowe State 2:00 PM
Saturday March 21, 2015
(MEAC)
Coppin State vs. Delaware State 1:00 PM
North Carolina A&T vs. #7 Savannah State 1:00 PM
#8 North Carolina Central vs. #5 Florida A&M 1:00 PM
#8 North Carolina Central vs. #5 Florida A&M 4:00 PM
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. #10 Norfolk State 1:00 PM
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Bethune-Cookman 2:00 PM
Richmond vs. #10 Norfolk State 3:00 PM
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. #10 Norfolk State 4:00 PM
Coppin State vs. Delaware State 4:00 PM
North Carolina A&T vs. #7 Savannah State 4:00 PM
(SWAC)
Grambling State vs. #4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12:00 PM
Southern vs. #6 Texas Southern 12:00 PM
Grambling State vs. #4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1:00 PM
#1 Alabama State vs. #2 Alabama A&M 1:00 PM
#3 Jackson State vs. Mississippi Valley State 1:00 PM
Alcorn State vs. Memphis 2:00 PM
Southern vs. #6 Texas Southern 3:00 PM
#1 Alabama State vs. #2 Alabama A&M 4:00 PM
#3 Jackson State vs. Mississippi Valley State 5:00 PM
#9 Prairie View vs. Incarnate Word 6:00 PM
(CIAA)
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. #2 Winston-Salem State 1:00 PM
Chowan vs. #1 Virginia State 1:00 PM
Chowan vs. #1 Virginia State 3:00 PM
Bluefield St. vs. St. Augustine’s 1:00 PM
Bluefield St. vs. St. Augustine’s 3:00 PM
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. # 2 Winston-Salem State 4:00 PM
(SIAC)
#10 Paine Clark Atlanta
Albany State vs. #8 Benedict
#6 Morehouse vs. Claflin
Kentucky State vs. Lane
#10 Paine vs. Clark Atlanta
LeMoyne-Owen vs. Stillman
Albany State vs. #8 Benedict
Miles vs. Spring Hill Live Stats
#6 Morehouse vs. Claflin
Miles vs. Spring Hill Live Stats
(GCAC)
Tougaloo vs. Mobile 1:00 PM
Tougaloo vs. Mobile Game 2
#5 Talladega vs. #3 Edward Waters 3:30 PM
(AMC)
Hannibal-LaGrange vs. No. 9 Harris-Stowe State 12:00 PM
Sunday March 22, 2015
(MEAC)
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. #10 Norfolk State 12:00 p.m.
Coppin State vs. Delaware State 12:00 p.m.
North Carolina A&T vs. #7 Savannah State 1:00 p.m.
#8 North Carolina Central vs. #5 Florida A&M 1:00 p.m.
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Bethune-Cookman 1:00 p.m.
(SWAC)
Grambling State vs. #4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1:00 PM
Southern vs. #6 Texas Southern 1:00 PM
#1 Alabama State vs. #2 Alabama A&M 1:00 PM
#3 Jackson State vs. Mississippi Valley State 1:00 PM
Alcorn State vs. Memphis 1:00 PM
#9 Prairie View vs. Incarnate Word 6:00 PM
(CIAA)
Chowan vs. #1 Virginia State 1:00 PM
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. #2 Winston-Salem State 1:00 PM
Bluefield St. vs. St. Augustine’s 1:00 PM
Chowan vs. #1 Virginia State 3:00 PM
Bluefield St. vs. St. Augustine’s 3:00 PM
Lincoln (Pa.) vs. #2 Winston-Salem State 4:00 PM
(SIAC)
#10 Paine vs. Clark Atlanta
Kentucky State vs. Lane
#6 Morehouse vs. Claflin
Miles vs. Spring Hill vs. Live Stats
Albany State vs. #8 Benedict
LeMoyne-Owen vs. Stillman
(GCAC)
#5 Talladega vs. #3 Edward Waters 1:00 PM
(RRAC)
Our Lady of the Lake vs. #4 Wiley 12:00 PM
Our Lady of the Lake @ #4 Wiley Game 2
Texas College @ Houston – Victoria 12:00 PM
Texas College @ Houston – Victoria Game 2
#7 Jarvis Christian vs. Huston-Tillotson 4:00 PM
#7 Jarvis Christian vs. Huston-Tillotson Game 2