The Alabama State baseball team will host defending SWAC Champion Alcorn State this weekend in an important three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday, with the first pitch both days at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
Weekend Gameday Central on bamastatesports.com will have links to live stats for all three games. Saturday's doubleheader will be streamed live over the internet for $5.95 or fans have the option to purchase the Spring Sports Package that includes a total of 11 baseball/softball games for $24.95.
The Hornets (11-17 overall, 5-4 SWAC) are coming off Wednesday's 4-2 home victory over Troy in front an enthusiastic crowd that saw ASU win its fifth consecutive home game.
“The atmosphere Wednesday night was incredible,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. “Our home fans have been awesome. I'm grateful for that and hope it continues. Their presence elevates the play of our players. They get motivated and excited when they have the home crowd behind them. It is definitely a home field advantage. You can feel it, you can sense it, and I think the guys play with more intensity in front of our crowd.”
The Hornets and Braves (6-19, 5-4) are tied for second place in the Eastern Division heading into the weekend which marks the halfway point of the conference schedule.
“It is an important series, not only because they are the defending champs but also because we are tied for second with Alcorn State,” Melendez said. “Within conference play, it is important to play well every weekend and continue to do the little things in order to come out on top.”
In winning seven of its last 11 games, Alabama State has done a number of little things well in recent weeks. The team batting average has steadily improved, along with driving in runs in scoring situations. Defensively, pitching and fielding has been strong and the combination of performance in all facets of the game will continue to be critical as the Hornets move to the second half of the season.
“Paying attention to detail is clearly what we need to concentrate on and continue to do better,” Melendez said. “Everyone looks at the end result, but how we've gotten there is what we need to focus on to continue to play good baseball.”
