MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State opens Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play this weekend, hosting Florida A&M at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex beginning Friday. The series is scheduled to begin at 6 pm on Friday, followed by a single game on Saturday at 6 pm, and Sunday at 1 pm.

The weather could play a factor in the series with a 100 percent of rain on Friday, followed by sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday. Alabama State (8-9) enters the weekend after winning three consecutive weekend series in conference play. The Hornets and Florida A&M have met 23 times since 2005 with Alabama State holding a 13-10 lead in the series including winning the last two games in the series.

The two teams met earlier this year in the second game of the year at the Andre Dawson MLB Classic in New Orleans (La.) with the Hornets winning 9-6 in a game that was aired on MLBTV.

Follow The Hornets
Fans can follow this weekend's games via the below outlets
Twitter: @BamaStateBB
Watch Live: Playsight
Live Stats: BamaStateSports.com

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
FRIDAY: ALST – Breon Pooler (RHP, Gr.) vs. FAMU – Hunter Viets (RHP, Jr.)
SATURDAY: ALST – Osvaldo Mendez (LHP, Jr.) vs. FAMU – Shawn Host (LHP, Jr.)
SUNDAY: ALST – Austin King (RHP, Sr.) vs. FAMU – Kelyn Fox (LHP, Sr.)

Leading Off

• This weekend marks the first series in SWAC play for both teams in the East Division and will mark the 24th meeting all-time between the two with the series opener. The Hornets are looking for their fourth consecutive series win on a weekend having won series over UT-Martin, St. Bonaventure, and Grambling State over the previous three.
• Florida A&M enters the weekend series after having their mid-week game against North Florida called due to rain on Tuesday (March 15) with the two tied at 7-all.

About the Hornets

• Alabama State has played five consecutive weekends to open the season and are 9-3 in weekend games including a 2-1 mark in the Andre Dawson Classic to open the season.
• The Hornets are third in the conference in hitting this season at .276, trailing only Grambling State (.296) and Texas Southern (.312). They are also third in pitching with a 5.54 earned run average.
• Hunter May (Slidell, La.) was named the 2022 Buster Poster Watch List earlier this week, one of just two catchers from the SWAC represented on the list.
• Angel Jimenez (Santo Domingo, DR) leads the team in hitting at .415 this season with three doubles and three home runs, while also knocking in 15 RBIs. Corey King (Lithonia, Ga.) is hitting .377 on the season and a career day against Grambling State last weekend with a pair of home runs and eight RBI in a single game.
• Chris Lewis (Alabaster, Ala.) and Ian Matos (Toa Alta, PR) are each hitting over .300 on the season.
• On the mound, Breon Pooler (Huntsville, Ala.) leads the Hornets with a 1.14 earned run average and a 0.97 WHIP while posting a 3-0 record. He has recorded 29 strikeouts in 23.2 innings this season. Payton Harris (Hattiesburg, Miss.) is 0-2 with a 3.46 earned run average, while Luis Rodriguez (Canovanas, PR) recorded a win and a save against Grambling State last weekend.

About the Rattlers

• The Rattlers have played three weekend series, winning one against Grambling State and winning two of three games at the Andre Dawson Classic to kick off the season.
• Florida A&M is 10th in the league in hitting at .219 and are currently seventh in pitching with a 7.90 earned run average.
• Grant Rowell leads Florida A&M in hitting at .340 with a pair of doubles, while Ty Hanchey is hitting .314 with five doubles this season.
• On the mound, Benjamin Krizen leads the team with a 1.64 earned run average.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University baseball, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateBB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.