Alabama State Baseball To Host A Pair Of Midweek Games

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State baseball team will open the month of April by hosting a pair of midweek games against Mercer Tuesday and Jacksonville State Wednesday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Both games begin at 6 p.m., with bamastatesports.com carrying live stats of both games. Live video for Wednesday's game will be available free of charge at bamastatesports.com/showcase.

The Hornets (24-8) have won six in a row and are coming off a three-game weekend sweep over North Carolina Central in which Alabama State had to score in the late innings to win twice. A walk-off single in the ninth inning helped ASU capture a 3-2 win in game one. Sunday, a four-run eighth inning rally erased a two-run deficit in a 9-8 win.

"I'd thought about that over the last few days that we hadn't played in a lot of close games," head coach Mervyl Melendez said. "As a coach, you want your team to perform at a high level offensively and not be in those situations. The reality is that you're going to have to win games late. We were able to do that twice this weekend. It was good see our guys fight back, especially when we were down, to come back to win, as well as scoring in the ninth to win."

It's the third straight year the Hornets have faced both Mercer and Jacksonville State in home-and-home matchups. Tuesday's matchup with Mercer (22-7) is perhaps one of few if not the first on the 2014 schedule nationally featuring a pair of 20-win teams. The defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion Bears opened the season with nine straight wins, and have won eight of their past nine games, including a win last week over 23^rd-ranked Georgia Tech.

"Mercer always has a good team, regardless of the win total," Melendez said. "They are a very good offensive ball club, and we know we are going to have to pitch very well to come out on top. They are a well-coached team, and we have our hands full. We're looking for to the challenge, and to continue to play well and see if we can continue to improve."

Jacksonville State (17-10) has won three in a row and six of its last seven games. Among the victories this season for the Gamecocks of the Ohio Valley Conference are wins over Troy and UAB.

"I think they are playing better than they have in recent years," Melendez said. "Credit that to the guys they have coming back who have continued to get better, similar to what we have done, as we have a lot of the same players who have matured. I think it will be a matchup of two teams that have players who have been with their programs for a few years now, understand the game better and playing with more confidence. We haven't beaten Jacksonville State in our previous matchups, so it will be a good test for us."

The mid-week games have continued to challenge and test Alabama State, something Melendez has wanted and established in the program. The difference this season, according to Melendez, is the opponents seemingly are all playing well.

"Almost every team we have faced during mid-week has played well throughout the season," Melendez said. "We don't have time to relax and put new guys in the mix and see if they can perform. We have to play our best game, and our guys who play on weekends. We have benefitted as well, because our players have gotten better. By being tested, you get better, and you improve on your game."

SCHEDULE CHANGE: This weekend's SWAC doubleheader at Miss. Valley St. will now be played Sunday in Moorhead, Miss at Mississippi Delta Community College. First pitch is 1 p.m. with live internet radio at bamastatesports.com/showcase .

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION