HBCU baseball in full swing with big hitting along with pitching gems highlighting this past weekend as Black College Nines continues its season long coverage of Who’s Hot In HBCU baseball.
Grambling State University
Mason Martinez (1-0) was near to perfection on the mound in the game against Southern University. The game was played at Minute Maid Park as part of the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic. Martinez finished with a complete game one hitter as the game was halted after 7-innings because of the 10 run rule as Grambling defeated Southern 10 to 0. For the day, Martinez 6.2 innings, allowed just 1 hit, no runs, striking out 6 batters. Southern University’s lone hit came in the second inning.
Talladega College
Talladega starter Samuel Guadamuz pitched a complete game gem allowing one run on four hits, and no walks while fanning 12 in Game 2 of Talladega’s 5 to 1 win over Lindsey Wilson completing DH sweep.
Bethune Cookman University
In Bethune’s season and home opener, Tanner Boccabello was masterful on the mound in the Cats 7-1 victory over Stonehill College. Boccabello threw 7.0 innings of shutout baseball allowing 7 hits, no runs, no walked batters while striking out 7 batters.
Alabama State University
Hornet outfielder Isaiah Landry had a missed opportunity to hit for the cycle in the season opening 16-5 win over Valparaiso. Landry was 4-for-5, with a triple to left field in the third inning, double down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth, and single past the shortstop in the sixth. He finished the game with 3 runs batted in.
Albany State University
Bradley Smith, the Golden Rams designated hitter, finished the weekend’s three-game series sweep of LeMoyne-Owen batting .400 going 4-for-10, driving in 9 runs which included 2 doubles, and a first-inning grand slam in game two of the scheduled doubleheader Saturday.
RHP Landon Kiefer, in 4.0 innings on the mound, recorded no hits, no runs, 8 strikeouts in Albany State’s two-hit, 20-0 shutout of LeMoyne-Owen.
Jarvis Christian University
Alejandro Gonzalez Moreno threw his second gem of the season. The Bulldogs’ RHP, in a complete game 7.0 innings of the scheduled doubleheader (a 13-1 win over Xavier of Louisiana), allowed just 5 hits, 1 unearned run, and struck out 6 batters for his third win of the season to open Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play.
North Carolina A&T University
Junior catcher Canyon Brown had back to back three rbi games for the Aggies. On the season’s opening day, Brown hit a game-winning three-run double that led the Aggies to a 5-2 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks. Then in the next game, Brown hit a two run home run in the bottom of the first-inning and added his third rbi of the game in the seventh inning.
Prairie View A&M University
RHP Victor Mendoza threw 4.0 innings of relief in Prairie View’s 5-3 win over Texas Southern recording 5 strikeouts.
Jackson State University
Tigers’ RHP senior starter Christian Womble, in 6.0 innings on the hill, gave up 5 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 8 batters in JSU’s 7-6 win over Grambling State at the Cactus Jack HBCU Tournament.
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RHP Jaxson Lucas, in relief, recorded 7 strikeouts in UAPB’s 10-6 win defeating Alabama A&M in this past Saturday’s weekend game. He pitched 5.1 innings allowed 2 hits, and 1 unearned run.
Savannah State University
RHP Jose Santiago, in 6.0 innings on the bump, allowed just 5 hits, 1 run, and 9 strikeouts defeating Kentucky State 10- 1 picking up his second win of the season.
Miles College
Catcher Brandon Leroy hit .384 over the weekend sweeping Clark Atlanta. Leroy went 5-for-13 with 8 runs batted in and 2 home runs including a 4th inning grand slam in the series opener.
Alabama A&M University
RHP Evan Hurlburt, in relief, struck out 9 batters as the Alabama A&M University baseball team won its 2024 season opener on Friday afternoon.
Florida A&M University
LHP Tre Simmons (1-0) was lights out on the mound against Eastern Illinois. For the game he threw 5.0 innings, allowed only 1 hit, no runs, while striking out 6 batters. The combined Rattlers pitching staff threw a three-hitter in defeating Eastern 4-0.
Noteworthy:
Xavier University of Louisiana – Coby Guillory struck out the side in the bottom of the 9th-inning to preserve Xavier’s 9-6 win over Jarvis Christian in getting the save.
Voorhees University – J. Smith (2-1) posted a complete game, only allowing Bluefield State 4 hits and 2 runs in the Tigers’ 6-2 game one of a doubleheader split.