Top Ranked Teams In Action Over The Weekend

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