MONTGOMERY, Ala. | With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Alabama State steps out of conference for a weekend series in Tallahassee against Florida A&M beginning Friday afternoon.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 pm (est) Moore-Kittles Friday, and is the first of three games on the weekend for the two teams.
Alabama State (22-19) enters the weekend fresh off a 6-2 victory over Jacksonville State in their home finale, and tied atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division standings with Jackson State. The Hornets have one conference series remaining on the road against Mississippi Valley State, while Jackson State closes out their conference slate this weekend hosting Alcorn State.
The Hornets and Florida A&M (19-22) have met one time before this season, with the Rattlers scoring late to come away with a 13-10 victory over the Hornets at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
Ray Hernandez leads the Hornets in almost every statistical category this season, but has company at the top of many with just two weeks remaining on the schedule. The senior is hitting .366 with 59 hits – including eight home runs and 35 runs batted in – and is slugging .565 on the season. He has also stolen 14 bases on the season.
Gustavo Rios, the reigning SWAC Hitter of the Week – is hitting .339 on the season with seven doubles and four home runs to go along with 35 runs batted in to match Hernandez for the team lead. Meanwhile,
Joseph Estrada is hitting .335 with 54 hits that include eight doubles, three triples and five home runs; while
Hunter Allen is hitting ..315 with a team-high 10 doubles to go along with five home runs and 30 runs batted in.
Alabama State will send junior righthander
Darrius Wright (6-1, 2.60 ERA) to the mound Friday afternoon against Florida A&M, with the rest of the weekend rotation to be decided.
The game on Friday and again Sunday afternoon will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network, with pregame beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
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