The Alabama State baseball team will host the Eastern Division-leading Jackson State Tigers in a Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown this weekend at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
The teams will open the series with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and will conclude with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader will be streamed live at
bamastatesports.com/showcase for $5.95 or fans can take advantage of a spring sports package that includes baseball and softball games streamed online.
The Hornets (16-20 overall, 10-5 SWAC) seek redemption after being swept at Jackson State (23-10, 11-2) in a three-game series March 9-10. Alabama State lost Friday night's game 2-1, before falling in Saturday's doubleheader 4-3 in 13 innings and 6-3 in the nightcap.
The JSU series dropped Alabama State's record to 4-13 and has proved to be a turning point in the 2012 season. Since March 13, the Hornets have posted a 12-7 record, including wins in seven of nine conference games.
“I think it was a reality check for us,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. “We had to go back and reflect on the things we needed to do better, one of which was execution. So, we went back to work. We went back to paying attention to the little things to be able to execute game plans.”
The Hornets have won three consecutive SWAC series, including a sweep at Alabama A&M last weekend. Jackson State swept division rival Mississippi Valley State last week and comes in a five-game winning streak.
“I think it's an important series, as it is every weekend,” Melendez said. “However, this is the series we have at hand right now. We are putting a lot of emphasis in winning one game at a time and playing well one game at a time. Jackson State, by virtue of being in first place, gives this series a lot of impact, especially as it relates to seeding for the conference tournament. We are putting a lot of emphasis on this series and doing things to be able to play better than we did at their place”
Melendez is pleased to have this series at home, where the Hornets have won seven of their past eight games at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
“It means a great deal to play at home, as I believe we're going to have a lot of fan support,” Melendez said. “To come in during our first year and have a chance to play the team that is leading the division and us being in second place, is exciting. There are a lot of people coming to see what happens this weekend. I believe if we get the support that I am expecting, it could be a tremendous advantage for us and influence the outcome of the game. I'm looking forward to having our fans get behind our players and get them to play with a different intensity.”
