Alcorn State University will host Bethune-Cookman in a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball series this weekend at Willie E. “Rat” McGowan Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi. The series begins Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., with the final game slated for 4 p.m., according to school officials.
Both teams are unranked in this week’s major polls. Alcorn enters the series with a 5-16 overall record and a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Braves recently earned their first back-to-back wins of the season by sweeping Champion Christian in a doubleheader midweek. They have won three of their last four games, according to school sources.
Leading hitters include Jaylyn Bennett, who has a .328 batting average with hits in four of his last five games. Cooper Harris has two home runs and a .317 batting average, while Keaten Hawk has hit safely in his last six games. On the mound, Kanious Davis is 2-1 on the season, and senior Hayden Konkler recorded his first win of the year in midweek action.
Bethune-Cookman, ranked 14-7 overall and 3-0 in SWAC play, is not ranked nationally. The Wildcats swept Prairie View A&M last weekend at home. They are led offensively by Jose Fernandez, with three home runs, and Darryl Lee, with two. The team boasts a .283 batting average and a .408 slugging percentage for the season.
Head coach Jonathan Hernandez is in his eighth season leading the Wildcats. The team’s pitching staff has a 4.97 ERA, with Edwin Sanchez posting a 4-1 record and a 2.45 ERA through five starts.
The series will be the first-ever in Lorman between the two programs. Bethune-Cookman leads the all-time series 4-1, with Alcorn’s sole victory a 4-3 win in Daytona Beach on May 28, 2011. Last season, the Braves lost a three-game league series to the Wildcats.
Alcorn coach Blake Hardy expressed confidence about playing at home against a top conference opponent. “Bethune-Cookman is one of the best teams in this conference,” Hardy said. “We’re excited to be at home and ready for the challenge. Our guys have been focused all week, and we’re looking forward to this series.”
Following the series, Alcorn will travel to Tougaloo on March 24 for a doubleheader. Fans can follow updates on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, for the latest news and scores.
