Black College Nines continues to recognize the baseball programs and players who stood out in weekend action in our season-long series… Who’s Hot In HBCU Baseball.
Benedict College
The Tigers split a weekend doubleheader visiting Morris College and losing 12 to 6 in the first game. Benedict bounced back to take game two 11 to 3. In the two-game series, Benedict stole 31 bases. They were 14 for 14 in the first game, 17 for 18 in game two. “The Fastest Show on Dirt” has now stolen 36 out of 37 bases in 3 games for an average of roughly 10.2 per game. The 36 total base thief’s include 5 for 5 on opening day this past March 13.
Ryan Chesney was 6 for 7 in steals on the day.
Bradon O’Conner was 5 for 5 going station to station.
Voorhees College
The Tigers of Voorhees traveled to Jacksonville, Fl for its scheduled three-game weekend series with former conference rivals Edward Waters College Tigers. After the series opening game, a 16-4 lost to EWC, Voorhees bounced right back with a game-two victory.
LHP Jathan Smith, (2-0) pitched a gem in defeating Edward Waters 1-0 with a complete game shut out. For the day in 7.0 innings pitched, Smith allowed 4 hits, no runs, and recorded 7 strikeouts. He induced fly balls all game off of EWC’s bats.
Grambling State University
The Tigers won a thrilling opening series game 5-4 holding off a stubborn Texas Southern baseball squad. Grambling collected it first win of the season in SWAC conference play in game one of the weekend series.
Starter Marc Luna (1-0) struck out 13 Texas Southern batters. In 7.0 innings on the hill, Luna allowed 6 hits 3 runs, 2 earned. The 13 Ks are a career high.
Rust College
The Rust Baseball team scored 24 runs in three of its wins in a home and away four-game series with Southeastern Baptist University over the weekend. After losing the first game of the series, 7-4, the Bearcats rallied and continued to apply consistent offensive pressure all series long winning 5-3, 10-0 and 9-5 to conclude the series.
Freshman Dreylin Holmes went 4-for-9 with a home run and three runs batted in.
Freshman Darrien Chapman was 6-for-12, scored three runs, belted a double and drove home three RBIs.
North Carolina A&T University
In the battle of the Carolinas, North Carolina A&T hosted division rival North Carolina Central to open MEAC conference play in a scheduled four-game series. The Aggies had to rally after being defeated in Saturday’s opening doubleheader, 6-2 and 6-4 by coming back with doubleheader wins, 8-2 and 3-2, to split the weekend series with the Eagles on Sunday.
Evan Gates in a relief appearance in five innings on the mound, struck out 11 batters in NCA&T’s 3-2 walk off win. In game one, Gates recorded the save while striking out 3 and raising his weekend strike out total to 14 batters.
Southern University
The Rice Baseball team had the potential tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but visiting Southern University hung on for a 6-4 win over the Owls in the finale of the three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon.
O’Neil Burgos was 2-for-5, doubled home two runs and scored a run factoring in the Jaguars win.
