SPARTANBURG, S.C.| Alabama State closes out the regular season in a non-conference weekend series against USC Upstate beginning Friday evening at Harley Park.

First pitch in the series is set for 6 pm (est) on Friday, followed by afternoon starts on Saturday and Sunday. Alabama State, the East Division champion in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), looks to win their ninth weekend conference of the season after winning their eight in conference and one against Purdue-Fort Wayne. They also won the weekend in the Andre Dawson Classic in New Orleans (La.) to start the season against three different teams.

Alabama State (25-22) enters the weekend off of a pair of midweek losses to Troy and UAB, finishing the season with a pair of midweek wins (Jacksonville State and Florida A&M). The Hornets were outscored 32-14 in those two games, but managed to pick 22 hits in the losses. Although Alabama State dropped both games this week, they continued to compete against UAB scoring four runs in the ninth inning and had the tying run on deck when the final out was made.

Yamil Pagan leads the Hornets at the plate, hitting .372 with 68 hits – including 13 home runs – and has driving in 50 runs on the season. As the leadoff hitter for the Hornets, Pagan has scored 63 runs that has him second in the nation in that category. Meanwhile, Noel Cheneau is hit .338 with 69 hits on the year that include nine doubles, four triples and nine home runs. He leads the team in stolen bases (20-for-25) and is currently seventh in the nation in RBI with 58.

Angel Jimenez (.321), Eriq White (.314 / 13 2B / 50 R) and Santiago Garcia (.300 / 14 2B / 55 RBI) are each over .300 for the season for the Hornets, who hit .291 as a team.

The Hornets will send their weekend rotation to the mound this weekend against USC Upstate as the conference tournament is a week away in New Orleans. Although they are subject to change, Darren Kelly (5-1, 2.60 ERA) will throw Friday; Ricardo Rivera (6-3, 4.38 ERA) will throw Saturday and Jeremy Rivera (6-4, 4.56 ERA) will pitch Sunday.

All three games against USC Upstate (20-22) will be carried by the Hornet Sports Network.

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