TUSCON, Az. – Alabama State head baseball coach
Mervyl Melendez has high expectations for the Hornet baseball program.
At his opening press conference in June 2011, Melendez was asked what is goal was for the ASU program. His one word reply? “Omaha,” as in Nebraska, site of the College World Series.
This weekend, Melendez and his Hornets face a program that went to Omaha and won it all, the defending national champion Arizona Wildcats in a three-game series.
Alabama State (27-19) and 24
th-ranked Arizona (25-14) of the Pac-12 Conference will play Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (all times central). Gameday central on bamastatesports.com will have links to listen live to the Hornet Broadcast Friday night and Sunday afternoon, and links to get live stats and watch all three games live online through the University of Arizona Athletics site.
Melendez is no stranger to facing the nation's best teams. During his head coaching career, his teams have defeated Miami, Michigan State, and South Florida three times each, Troy twice, Auburn, Mercer, and UAB among 49 victories against non-conference FBS opponents.
So, how
do you get the defending national champions on your schedule, one with four national titles and 16 College World Series appearances?
“We will always want to play the best teams in the nation. That's the only way to get better as a team and test your team,” Melendez said. “The opportunity to play the University of Arizona was one that we couldn't pass up. Their program and accomplishments are what I want our program to achieve. It will be great to see our willpower and play great against a great opponent.”
In his second year as Hornets' head coach, Melendez has his team in the hunt for a SWAC Championship. Constantly molding and shaping his team in his image, the Arizona series will help to prepare his team for the stretch run of the season as the conference tournament is less than three weeks away.
“Playing the best teams in the nation will test you as well as get you ready for the rest of the season,” Melendez said. “Our team will gain tremendous experience from playing the University of Arizona and we are looking forward to the challenge and to a great showing. It doesn't get better than this.”
