Now into week three of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball season, once again, let’s take another look at which players and conference are making some noise during the early stages of the 2017 season.
HBCU Large School Division
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – This past weekend was a good weekend for the MEAC, with Florida A&M University and North Carolina A&T going 3-0, and Savannah State University going 3-1.
The MEAC combined record of 12-11.
North Carolina A&T University – N.C. A&T went 4-0 on the week. The Aggies defeated Norfolk State in a tough fought 4-3 mid-week win then swept University of Maryland Eastern Shore over the weekend to improve to 4-3 on the season. Several players had big weeks.
Position Player – Myles Sowell (Junior OF) For the week .529 batting average, 12 at bats, 6 runs, 9 hits and 5 runs batted in
Position Player – Adan Ordonez (Junior C) 2/24/2017 against UMES, 4 for 4, 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, 1 homerun and 7 runs batted in
Position Player – Greg White (Junior OF) For the week, .625 batting average, 5 runs, 5 hits and 2 runs batted in
Florida A&M University – For the third time in three games, Florida A&M (5-2) won all in walk-off fashion, as the Rattlers found ways to sweep the weekend series from George Washington going 3-1 for the week.
Position Player – Ben Ellzey (Senior 3B) Ellzey delivered the Walk-Off single in the series opener against George Washington in the bottom of the 9th inning for the win. For the week against Auburn and GWU, 471 batting average, 17 at bats, 2 runs, 8 hits, 3 runs batted in
Position Player – Willis McDaniel (Sophomore OF) McDaniel had an RBI double and a homerun against Auburn, also knocked in another RBI scoring double against George Washington, finishing the week .313 batting average with 3 doubles and a homerun with 4 runs batted in
Pitcher – Aubrey McCarty (Junior OF/P) McCarty pitched a no decision after exiting the game in the 7th inning with a 1-1 tie. FAMU went on to win the game 2-1 in extra innings. 7IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 2 Ks 1 earned run
University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s – In a weekend swept from North Carolina A&T, Tyler Friis turned around from a 0 for 10 opening weekend to improve his season average by 300 points. Drove in 3 of the teams five runs during this past Saturday’s game.
Position Player – Tyler Friis (Junior OF) Weekend series again N.C. A&T, .400 batting average, 10 at bats, 2 runs, 6 hits and 3 runs batted in
Savannah State University – The Tiger young core of players stepped it up for their performance this weekend in SSU’s (3-1) series win over Alabama A&M University.
Position Player – Turner Davis (Freshman C/1B) .438 batting average, 16 at bats, 7 hits, 2 doubles, .500 on-base percentage and 8 runs driven in
Pitcher – Alex Wright (Sophomore RHP) Complete Game shutout, 7.0 IP, 8 Ks, 1walk, in a 10-0 win
Prairie View A&M University – Panthers Corbin Jamison ignites the offense. Jamison went 3 for 3 including a double and a run scored in Wednesday’s mid-week game at Incarnate Word. He went 2 for 3 in Sunday’s game against The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Position Player – Corbin Jamison (Junior OF) .367 this season 11 for 30 with one run scored, four RBI and four stolen bases.
Coppin State University – Lost a one run mid-week one run 6-5 contest to the Georgetown Hoyas.
Pitcher – Jahmon Taylor (Sophomore RHP) In relief, 3.0 IP, 4 Ks, 0 runs allowed, 0 walks, gave up only 1 hit
HBCU Small School Division
Kentucky State University – The Thorobreds was on the road splitting a doubleheader with the University of Charleston then came up short 7-6 on a walk-off loss in the series finale. KSU have played 12 of their first 16 games on the road and have now lost by way of the walk off on three occasions, but continue to be a force with the top performances from KSU this past weekend:
Position Player – Greg Alexander (Junior C) Went 9-18 on the week with 2 doubles, 1 homerun, 4 runs scored and 1 RBI for the Thorobreds
Pitcher – Josh Dunn (Senior RHP) 4-2 win over University of Charleston. 7-inning complete game, allowed 1 earned run, 3 hits, 4 walks and 1 strikeout to move his record to 2-1 on the season
Winston Salem State University – In game one of the WSSU scheduled doubleheader, the Rams fell behind early but never gave in, and battled all the way back to take the game 11-7.
Position Player – Randy Norris (Sophomore INF) Weekend series, .533 batting average, 15 at bats, 5 runs, 8 hits and 4 runs batted in
Pitcher – Landon Biggs (Sophomore LHP) 6.1 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 6 earned runs and 2 Ks in the 11-6 win, going 2-0 on the season