ASU Sun Devils Power Past B-CU in Game Two, 15-7

TEMPE, Arizona - The Wildcats came out swinging the bats big in the second game of the series with No. 16 Arizona State, setting off an early shootout with the Sun Devils, until the WildcaASts' bats grew cold in the middle innings, allowing ASU to pull away en route to a 15-7 win.

"I think we did a good job of coming right out of the box ready to go," Head Coach Jason Beverlin said. "Offensively, I thought we did a good job all day. We've just got to do a little bit better job of picking up the ball and doing the little things defensively, to make us a better baseball team."

Bethune-Cookman (0-2) demonstrated a solid approach from the first pitch, with Brandon Turner leading off with a walk, stealing second and reaching third on a pickoff error, quickly putting the Wildcats on the board as he crossed the plate on a drifting pulled Eros Modena double to left.

David Lee reached base on balls and was quickly cleared off by Matt Noble's two-run double to the center field fence, granting the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage.

Arizona State (2-0) came to the plate with the same mindset. Third baseman Michael Benjamin pushed the first pitch through the right side for a hard-hit single, setting the stage for ASU to tie on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the second, Shaun McCarty reached and advanced on an error, scoring on another misfire from the ASU second baseman, James McDonald, which also allowed PJ Biocic on the bases. Biocic would score two batters later on a loop RBI single from David Lee, taking a 5-3 lead.

Trever Allen's two-run triple would again knot the score in the bottom of the second, but the Sun Devils gained the lead with Allen scoring on an infield groundout to push ASU on top 6-5.

The first two innings ran long, taking up 58 minutes of game time.

B-CU made the move to tie the score in the top of the third, as Eric Sams led off with a walk, coming home on Biocic's RBI double to outer left field, bringing the score to 6-6.

Though the Wildcats had very active bats against starter Adam McCreery, collecting six runs on four hits, and reaching base on balls four times, reliever Ryan Kellogg froze the Wildcats' offensive attack, holding B-CU without another score through the seventh inning.

"The second guy that they brought in did a really good job of attacking the strike zone and really made the difference for them," Beverlin noted.

In the meantime, ASU countered offensively in a big way, putting up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third, four in the bottom of the fourth, and closing out with three final runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The Wildcats would score just once more, as Biocic again crossed the plate on Josh Johnson's RBI groundout in the eighth, sending the score to 15-7 in ASU's favor, where it would go final in the ninth, with ASU accumulating 19 hits, with assistance from four B-CU errors.

Making his first start of the season, Ali Simpson (0-1) takes the loss, opening a group of four newcomer B-CU pitchers to take mound on the day, namely Eric Sams, Lenny Martinez and Michael Austin.

Biocic led the Wildcats at the plate, batting 2-of-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Noble went 2-of-5 with a pair of RBI.

The Wildcats return to action in the Arizona State series, wrapping up the three-game set on Sunday at Packard Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m. MST.

For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feed, @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at Bethune-Cookman Athletics.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY BETHUNE COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Howard secures win over FAMU in under 10 seconds

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (www.howard-bison.com) –  With under a minute remaining, the Howard University women's basketball team paced to a 5-2 run for a nail-biting 58-57 win over the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 16.

With 1:32 on the scoreboard and Howard down 55-52, senior Cheyenne Curley-Payne dropped a pair at the charity stripe, bringing the Lady Bison within two.  Fellow senior Kara Smith scored a three pointer at the 44.4 mark for a one-point lead.  Florida A&M's Jasmine Grice regained the lead from the free-throw line, nonetheless Howard pulled out the victory with a layup by Jerelle Gorham with 10-seconds left in the game.

Saadia Doyle, who was a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe, finished with 23 points.  Smith tallied 13 points, while Curley-Payne notched nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

As a unit, the mighty blue and white shot 41 percent from the field (23-of-56), 29 percent from the three-point arc (4-of-14) and 67 percent  from the free-throw (8-of-12).

Statistically, Howard outscored FAMU in the pain (24-to-12), off second chances (13-to-4) and off the fast break (2-to-0).

HU opened the contest with an eight-point lead by the first media timeout at 14:12.

By the next media timeout, FAMU came within three on a 9-4 run, 15-12.

The Lady Rattlers continued their home-dominance hitting on an 8-4 run for the first lead of the half, 20-19.

Florida A&M went on to the lead the contest at the halftime intermission, 29-26.

When Howard returned to the court, Smith scored a basket from the long range to tie the contest 29-29 at the 19:51 mark.

Howard and FAMU went back-to-back until the 15:07 mark, when Doyle scored two points on a pair from the free-throw line.

Florida A&M put Howard on their heels, when the Lady Rattlers took a 47-45 lead and maintained the lead until the 1:32 mark when Curley-Payne paced the Lady Bison to victory.

Howard returns to action on Monday, February 18 to take on Bethune-Cookman at 5:30 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla.

For more information on Howard Women's Basketball, visit the official athletics website at www.howard-bison.com.


By Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Sports Information
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
HOWARD-BISON.COM 

TSU Lady Tigers move to 12-1 in SWAC play after defeating UAPB

HOUSTON, Texas  --  The Texas Southern Lady Tigers won their twelfth straight game capturing a 63-59 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at H&PE Arena. It was a total team effort as Kayla West and Te’era Williams combined to form the one-two scoring punch TSU needed to grind out the win.

West hit 7-of-8 attempts from the free throw line and dished out two assists. Williams scored some much needed buckets over the course of the contest as she went 3-of-6 overall while pulling down three rebounds and distributing six assists leading her team.

Texas Southern got 12 points off the bench as they collectively shot 38 percent from the floor as a team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 37 percent but struggled to get quality looks down the stretch due to Texas Southern’s stifling defense.

“It’s all about playing a full 40 minutes each game,” said TSU head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. “The game of basketball requires you to go all out every second that the game is in play. Our players fought through some adversity tonight but overall I’m really proud of how we competed out there the entire game.”

Arkansas-Pine Bluff managed to take a brief lead midway through the second half but the Lady Tigers were relentless as they battled back to take a 59-58 advantage at the 1:44 mark of the half. Texas Southern wouldn’t trail again from that point as they held on for the victory at home.

Inside the Numbers
Texas Southern tallied a total of six points in transition. The Lady Tigers won the battle inside the paint outscoring UAPB 22-20. TSU got 10 second chance points while UAPB got the edge on the glass 42-32.

Up Next
Texas Southern will conclude their two-game home stand with a meeting with Mississippi Valley State on Monday, February 18 at H&PE Arena. Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm. The game has been tabbed "Think Pink Night" as the women's basketball program will look to raise awareness to those affected by Breast Cancer. Mississippi Valley State enters their meeting with the Lady Tigers after winning a 58-53 decision at Prairie View A&M.

Lady Tiger Notables
Texas Southern sits in sole possession of first place in the SWAC with an 12-1 overall conference mark.

The Lady Tigers have won a school record 12 straight contest dating back to January 4^th.

*The Lady Tigers broke the school record for wins in a season (15) with their win against UAPB.

Texas Southern Head Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke needs only five more victories to reach 150 wins for her collegiate career.

*Since becoming a member of the NCAARTESY

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ram Ramblings: A breakdown of WSSU's football schedule

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  I haven’t yet talked to Connell Maynor about this fall’s football schedule but I’m sure he’s going to say it’s a challenging one. That’s what all football coaches say when the schedule is revealed.

About the only real challenges I see for WSSU in 2013 will come from UNC Pembroke and defending SIAC champions Tuskegee. As for their CIAA schedule I don’t see many challenges except from possible Shaw and St. Augustine’s.
 
Even though the Rams lost a lot of key parts off a 14-1 team that went to the Division II national championship game it’s hard for me to envision them losing in the CIAA next season. They have won 20 straight regular-season games and are 35-4 in Maynor’s three seasons.

I talked to Maynor briefly about his recruiting class for this fall and he said he was thrilled with the incoming high-school players. When I asked him about the transfers that are also on campus he didn’t offer much.

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Winston-Salem State Releases 2013 Football Schedule

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the 2013 football schedule.

 

Coming off the most successful football season in HBCU history with a 14-1 record, Winston-Salem State University will once again battle through a challenging schedule with a solid mix of good, out of conference competition and as usual, a tough CIAA slate to contend with.

 

Winston-Salem State finished the 2012 season as the NCAA DII National Runner Up, and HBCU National Champions for the second consecutive year. WSSU has won 25 games with just two losses over the past two seasons and have not dropped a conference game over the same time period.

 

The WSSU Rams will open the 2013 season on the road on a Thursday night, as they will travel to Pembroke, NC to face the Braves of UNC Pembroke on September 5^th. The Rams have won three straight against the Braves, including a 28-23 win at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2012. WSSU holds a 3-0 series advantage over UNC Pembroke.
 

 

The following week, September 14^th, the WSSU Rams will open their home season, welcoming a new opponent to Bowman Gray Stadium in the Dragons of Virginia University of Lynchburg. This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. This game has been designated as the Hall of Fame Game.

 

Winston-Salem State will travel back to Cleveland, Ohio in the third week of the season to participate in the Cleveland Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium. This year the Rams will face the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University on September 21^st. This will be the fourth meeting between WSSU and Tuskegee, with the Golden Tigers leading the series 3-1.

 

The Rams will wrap up the September portion of the schedule on the road in Richmond, VA, to take on the Panthers of Virginia Union University. The Rams hold a slight 21-20-1 advantage in the series between the two schools. WSSU won 35-6 last season in a game played at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, and have won four straight games in the series.
 

As the leaves begin to turn to their fall colors, and the air begins to crisp, and the month of October rolls around, the WSSU Rams will return home to take on CIAA foe, Bowie State University. WSSU leads the series with the Bulldogs, 13-5, including a 35-3 win in Bowie, MD in 2012.
 

The following week, WSSU will welcome alumni from all around the globe, as Homecoming 2013 takes center stage, when the Rams welcome the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University to Bowman Gray Stadium. WSSU leads the series with JCSU 40-21-4 and have won 12 straight games in the series. In 2012, WSSU took a 63-7 victory over the Golden Bulls in a game played at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.
 

Winston-Salem State will hit the road for the final two games of the month, starting with a road trip to Raleigh, NC to take on the Falcons of St. Augustine's University. It will mark the first time the Rams will have played the Falcons on campus in new Saint Augustine's University Stadium. WSSU defeated the Falcons 56-37 in 2012, and holds a 13-11-2 series record over St. Augustine's University. The Rams have won two consecutive games in this series.
 

WSSU will wrap up the month of October with a trip down I-85 to Salisbury, NC to take on the Blue Bears of Livingstone College. The Rams hold a 36-11-1 series record over the Blue Bears, including having won 10 consecutive in the series. WSSU defeated Livingstone College 58-0 this past season.
 

The Rams will close out the regular season with back to back home games. First, on November 2^nd WSSU will play host to the Bears of Shaw University on 1000 HORN$ Appreciation Day. Winston-Salem State defeated Shaw 62-31 in 2012, and holds a 10-7-2 series lead. WSSU has won two straight in the series.
 

The Rams will wrap up the 2013 regular season hosting the Broncos of Fayetteville State University on Senior Day. WSSU leads the series 46-13-3, including this past season's 41-8 romp in Fayetteville. The Rams have won four straight in the series.

WSSU RAMS 2013

Date  Opponent   Location
9/05  @UNC Pembroke, Pembroke, N.C.
9/14      Virginia University of Lynchburg, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Hall of Fame Game)
9/21  @Tuskegee University, Cleveland, OH  (Cleveland Classic)
9/28  @ Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA*
10/5       Bowie State University, Winston-Salem, NC*
10/12     Johnson C. Smith University (Homecoming) Winston-Salem, NC*
10/19 @ Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC*
10/26 @ Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC*
11/2        Shaw University, Winston-Salem, NC (1000 Horns Appreciation Day)
11/9        Fayetteville State University, Winston-Salem, NC  (Senior Day)
TBD        NCAA Division II Playoffs

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Livingstone 68, JCSU 56

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  Livingstone’s men’s basketball team won 68-56 at Johnson C. Smith’s Brayboy Gym in a CIAA game attended by 1,479 fans on Saturday night.

The victory kept the Blue Bears (18-5, 10-4) in front of the Golden Bulls (16-8, 9-5) in the divisional standings. LC is 6-2 in the Southern Division, while J.C. Smith is 5-3.

Mark Thomas didn’t have a great shooting night, but he still finished with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Ethan Anderson scored 14 on 7-for-10 shooting.

 

Tyler Johnson and Jody Hill scored nine points each.

 

When the Golden Bulls cut Livingstone’s lead to six points with about six minutes to go, Johnson hit a jumper and made two free throws, and Livingstone maintained a safe lead the rest of the way.
 

The Blue Bears shot 43 percent, but they held J.C. Smith to 38-percent shooting.

 

Livingstone limited J.C. Smith star Trevin Parks to 13 points. He lit up the Bears when the Bulls won at Trent Gym.

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Gold Nuggets win at SUNO, stretch streak to 10 straight

NEW ORLEANS -- Paige Gauthier's career-best 19 points Saturday led NAIA No. 10 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 72-67 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against SUNO at The Castle.

The victory, the 10th in a row for the Gold Nuggets (22-4 overall, 10-2 GCAC) and their eighth straight in conference, kept them in a first-place tie with Talladega. But SUNO (14-4, 9-3) -- which had a share or sole possession of the GCAC lead since Jan. 21 -- fell to third place. All three teams have two conference games remaining, none with each other.

Gauthier, a reserve guard, led Xavier in scoring for the second consecutive game and the fourth time in six games. She scored 11 second-half points, including a 3-pointer with 17:18 remaining which put the Gold Nuggets ahead to stay, 40-38.

Xavier led 62-50 after Danielle Tucker's 3-pointer with 7:43 remaining, but SUNO cut that deficit before committing a turnover while trailing by two and missing a 3-pointer while trailing by three in the final 13 seconds. Gauthier closed the scoring with two free throws with two seconds remaining and was a career-best 8-of-8 from the line.

SiMon Franklin scored 14 points for Xavier, and Tucker and Carmen Holcombe had nine each. Holcombe grabbed nine rebounds and had a career-high five steals, the last with 13 seconds remaining and Xavier leading 69-67. Holcombe was fouled after her steal, then made 1-of-2 free throws.

April Perry scored 21 points, 17 in the second half, for SUNO. Janee Morton scored 19 points, Sharlyn Reed had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Rose Boatner had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

SUNO led 34-32 at halftime.

The victory streak is Xavier's longest since winning 21 in a row during 2009-10. The Gold Nuggets' ended SUNO's six-game home win streak; it was the Lady Knight's first loss at The Castle since a 57-56 decision Nov. 15 against Westminster (Utah), a top-five NAIA team.

Xavier will visit Tougaloo at 5:30 p.m. Monday, then play Dillard at 3 p.m. next Saturday in the Crosstown Classic at XU's new Convocation Center. Reserved tickets, priced at $5, will go on sale at the Convocation Center box office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and be available through Thursday. Tickets purchased on game day will cost $10. Students can pick up one free ticket with a valid XU ID from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday at the Student Activities Office in room 208 (second floor) of the University Center.


By Ed Cassiere, SID
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

West Virginia State's Anderson Announces First Recruiting Class

HEAD COACH JON ANDERSON
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
YELLOW JACKETS

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – New West Virginia State University (WVSU) head football coach Jon Anderson and his staff announced their first recruiting class today, with more than 30 students committing to play for the Yellow Jackets.
 
The announcement comes on the first day of the NCAA's national letter of intent signing period for football.

The single largest block of new student athletes comes to Institute from within the state of West Virginia, however, WVSU's recruiting class also features players from throughout a multi-state region, including Ohio, Maryland, Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Washington D.C.
 
“We had two goals when we started out recruiting this class,” said Anderson, who was named coach of the Yellow Jackets in December. “Number one, we wanted to focus on the state of West Virginia. We worked hard to introduce ourselves to the state high school coaches, and West Virginia ended up being the state where we got the most recruits from. ”

In all, 11 students who played their high school football in West Virginia have committed to continue their careers for the Yellow Jackets, and will begin play next season in the newly formed Mountain East Conference.
      
Another factor that was important to Anderson was to recruit players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football.

“We wanted to build an overall team from this recruiting class,” said Anderson, who came to WVSU following a career as a defensive coordinator of one of the nation's most successful NAIA and NCAA Division II football programs.

“You will see every position represented with great high school student athletes. Our initial goal was 20 and to be able to introduce over 30 today is outstanding.”

Despite the fact that the new coaching staff arrived in December and January, they were determined to cover as much ground as possible to recruit in such a short amount of time.

“I believe that we accomplished everything we set out to do with this recruiting class and I am confident that these student athletes will have a bright future at WVSU,” said Anderson.




The 2013 West Virginia State University football signees are (individual biographies below list:

• Luke Barnes, 5'11'' 160, safety. Chillicothe High School (Ohio) 

Sherman Bernett, 5'11'' 210, linebacker. St. John's High School (Washington, D.C.)

Dwight Blankenship, 6'0'' 225, linebacker. Wayne High School (W.Va.)

Trevon Bolin-Hitchens, 6'4'' 210, tight end. Waverly High School (Ohio)

Devon Bollinger, 6'1'' 260, defensive tackle. Reynoldsburg High School (Ohio)

Noah Brown, 6'4'' 290, defensive tackle. Lafayette High School (Ky.)

Justin Carr, 6'3'' 225, linebacker. Lafayette High School (Ky.)

Zevin Clark, 5'10'' 190, running back. Crystal Lake South High School (Ill.)

Kevin Coffie, 5'9'' 160, defensive back. Springbrook High School (Md.)

Darrod Doleman, 5'10'' 160, defensive back. Jefferson High School (W.Va.)

Nicholas Dreixler, 6'2'' 250, guard. Mount Carmel High School (Ill.)

Jared Fehrens, 6'4'' 240, defensive end. Courtland High School (Va.)

Jules Ferguson, 6'3'' 235, linebacker. Princeton High School (Ohio)

Dennis Gardeck, 6'2'' 190, linebacker. Crystal Lake South High School (Ill.)

Geoff Gardner, 6'2'' 275, guard. Grayslake North High School (Ill.)

Garrett Grafton, 6'3'' 300, tackle. Winfield High School (W.Va.)

Paul Hammer, 6'1'' 200, linebacker. Hebron High School (Texas)

Kurt Jones, 6'2'' 250, guard. Cabell-Midland High School (W.Va.)

T.C. Kester, 5'10'' 160, safety. Winfield High School (W.Va.)

Matt Kinnick, 6'2'' 190, quarterback. St. Clairsville High School (Ohio)

Drew Kirby, 5'9'' 210, running back. St. Albans High School (W.Va.)

Jarod Martin, 6'3'' 225, tight end. Huntington High School (W.Va.)

Raleigh Mason, 5'8'' 205. running back. Brooke High School (W.Va.)

Dustyn Murphy, 6'3'' 205, tight end. Nicholas County High School (W.Va.)

Garrett Peavler, 5'10'' 170, safety/quarterback. Lafayette High School (Ky.)

Mitchell Rowell, 6'0'' 235, linebacker. Gahanna Lincoln High School (Ohio)

Dalton Shannon, 6'2'' 285, center/guard. Belleview High School (Fla.)

Gavin Smith, 5'9'' 160, kicker/punter. St. Albans High School (W.Va.)

Geoffrey Walker, 6'3'' 190, wide receiver. Jefferson High School (W.Va.)

Akil Washington, 6'2'' 185, wide receiver. Suitland High School (Washington, D.C.)

Trent Williamson, 5'11'' 205, quarterback. Westfall High School (Ohio)

Jamir Wilson, 6'0'' 180, safety. Seneca Valley High School (Md.)

*Luke Barnes* 5'11'' 155, Defensive Back. Chillicothe, Ohio. Chillicothe High School. A standout in the classroom as well, Barnes was a member of the Beta Club, and Honor Roll at Chillicothe High boasting a 3.2 GPA. A two year varsity letter winner for head coach Ron Hinton, he was also chosen as a team captain and received the “elite cavalier” award. Barnes recorded 63 tackles during his senior campaign, and received his team's defensive back of the week award twice. Barnes is also a 2 year letter winner in track, he is the son of Terrill and Erica Barnes, and plans to major in graphic design while attending WVSU.

*Sherman Bernett* 6'0'' 210, Linebacker. Washington, D.C., St. John's High School. Burnett comes to Institute from St. John's High School where he not only excelled on the football field, but proved to be an excellent student as well recording a 3.2 GPA and being named to the St. John's Honor Roll for his work in the classroom. Burnett was a standout on a defense that led its team to the state semi-finals, recording 60 tackles, along with 3 sacks for head coach Joe Patterson. Sherman is the son of Sherman Burnett Jr. & Nichole Humphries. Burnett plans to major in forensic science while at WVSU.

*Dwight Blankenship* 6'0'' 225, Linebacker. Wayne, WV. Wayne High School. Blankenship comes to West Virginia State University after a stellar playing career at Wayne High School, while at Wayne, Blankenship's performance earned him all state honors in both his junior and senior campaigns. Blankenship's play helped earn Wayne High School two state championship crowns in 2011 and again in 2012 under head coach Tom Harmon. Dwight is the son of Dwight & Terrina Blankenship.

*Trevon Bolin-Hitchens* 6'4'' 200, Tight End. Waverly, Ohio. Waverly High School. Trevon joins the WVSU family after an outstanding playing career at Waverly High School under head coach Rusty Wright. Trevon had an excellent junior season in which his play earned him All SOC II First Team honors, followed by a senior season that saw him earn more post season accolades including 2012 All SOC II First Team honors and, 2012 All Southwest District Division Honorable Mention. Trevon plans to major in Education while at WVSU. He is the son of Amy and Shelby Hitchens.

*De'Von Bollinger* 6'1'' 260, Defensive Tackle. Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Reynoldsburg High School. Bollinger not only excelled on the playing field, but also in the classroom earning Scholar Athlete of the Year honors as senior at Reynoldsburg High. As a senior, the 6'1'' 260 pound tackle proved to be disruptive force for opposing offenses recording 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 30 tackles along with 23 solo stops, and recording 9 touchdowns for head coach Buddy White. De'Von is the son of Gregory & Cheryl Hines.

*Noah Brown* 6'4'' 290, Defensive Tackle. Lexington, Kentucky. Lafayette High School. Brown brings outstanding athletic ability to the State football team that will thrive off having an athletic defensive tackle within their defensive scheme. Brown provides just that earning All-City and All-District honors in 2012 during his senior campaign at Lafayette High under head coach Carl Hayden. Respected by his teammates as well Brown was named the most valuable defensive lineman at Lafayette High School. Noah plans to major in Biology at WVSU, he is the son of David and Tammy Brown.

*Justin Carr* 6'2'' 228, Linebacker. Lexington, Kentucky. Lafayette High School. One of the most decorated players in this year's signing class Carr comes to Institute from Lafayette High School where he was a 4-time defensive MVP for head coach Carl Hayden. After having a career that saw Carr record 487 tackles, 17 sacks, and over 50 tackles for loss he was named to the All-City team in 2011, 2012, and 2013. After leading the state in tackles in 2012 and 2013 he was named to the All-State team in both of those seasons as well. Justin is the son of Jerry & Phyllis Carr.

*Zevin Clark* 5'10'' 190, Running Back. Crystal Lake South High School. As a senior at Crystal Lake South Clark rushed for over 1,000 yards in just a six week span for head coach Chuck Ahsmann. It was this kind of performance that earned him numerous post season accolades including, All Conference, All Area, the Max Emfinger All-American Team honors, North West Heralds Athlete of the Week honors, as well as earning him his team's Offensive MVP Award. Zevin is the son of Kevin and Zerria Clark.

*Kevin Coffie* 6'0'' 150, Defensive Back. Springbrook High School. The Laurel, Maryland product comes to Institute after an outstanding playing career at Springbrook High under head coach Adam Bahr. Coffie will certainly add some talent to the Yellow Jacket secondary with his exceptional athletic ability, as a senior Coffie recorded 47 solo tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 PBU's. Respected by his teammates, Coffie was named a team captain at Springbrook. Coffie plans to major in Physical Therapy while at WVSU. Kevin is the son of Richard and Beatrice Saunders.

*Darrod Doleman* 5'10'' 160, Defensive Back. Ranson, West Virginia. Jefferson High School. Doleman comes to Institute from Jefferson High School, where he earned three varsity letters under head coach Richard Mills. Highly respected by his teammates Doleman was also chosen as two time captain at Jefferson High. Doleman's play on the field led to two selections on the All-PVC team as a junior and again as a senior. Darrod finished second on the team in receptions as a junior, and followed that up by leading his squad in receptions as a senior. Doleman also won player of the week honors during his senior campaign, he is the son of Kevin Doleman & Renee Smith. Darrod plans to major in Sports Studies while at WVSU.

*Nick Dreixler* 6'2'' 250, Center. Steger, Illinois. Mount Carmel High School. Dreixler comes to WVSU after a highly decorated high school career. Not only did Nick excel on the playing field but also in the classroom earning the freshman student athlete award, as well as being named to the Mount Carmel honor roll. Highly respected by his opponents Dreixler was named to the Pre-Season All Area Team, as well as receiving the Order of the “C” award. Dreixler's performance up front helped his team become 2009 CCL Champions, 2011 Chicago Prep Bowl Champions and finally becoming the 2012 8A state champs during his senior campaign. Dreixler plans on majoring in Mathematics while at WVSU. Nick is the son of Tom and Katie Dreixler.

*Jared Fehrens, 6'4'' 230, Defensive End. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Courtland High School. Highly respected by coaches and teammates Fehrens was selected as team captain for the Courtland High program. Fehrens, a member of the varsity team as a sophomore that won the regional championship, as well as a advancing all the way to the state semi-final team, this same team also earned a regional championship. As a senior under head coach JC Hall, Fehrens earned First-Team All-District honors at defensive end, First-Team All-Region Defensive End, Second Team All-District Tight End, as well as honorable mention All-State honors at defensive end. Jared is the son of Albert & Mary Fehrens, and plans to major in Business while at WVSU.

*Jules Ferguson* 6'3'' 230, Linebacker. Cincinnati, Ohio. Princeton High School. Standout for linebacker for head coach Gary Croley. Jules is the son of Leslie Spencer & Norman Ferguson.

*Dennis Gardeck* 6'1'' 200, Linebacker. Lake in The Hills, Illinois. Crystal Lake South High School. Gardeck comes to Institute from Crystal Lake South High School where his performance on the field earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches after they named him team MVP for his performance during his senior campaign. Gardeck helped lead a defense for head coach Chuck Ahsmann, in which he received All-Conference and All-Area accolades for his play at linebacker. Gardeck will bring an explosive athleticism to the State linebacking corps, he plans to major in Criminal Justice as well during his time at WVSU. Dennis is the son of Jim and Terri Gardeck.

*Geoffrey Gardner* 6'2'' 280. Guard. Grayslake North High School. Gardner comes to West Virginia State from Grayslake North High fresh off of the best season in school history which saw head coach Steve Wood's squad post a school best 8-1 record, and the first playoff appearance in school history. Gardner was a major factor in the team's success anchoring an offensive line that paved the way to a Fox Valley Conference Championship. Gardner will add some talented depth to the State offensive line, with his exceptional talent up front. Gardner plans to major in Sports Studies while at WVSU, Geoffrey is the son of Bonnie Gardner.

*Kamal Garner* 6'4'' 184, Wide Receiver. Washington, D.C. Friendship Collegiate Academy. Garner comes to Institute where he will add a big, athletic body to the receiving corps. As a senior at Friendship Garner's performance on the field helped him earn Second Team All-Metro honors, as he led his team in receiving touchdown as a senior for head coach Aazar Rahim. Kamal is the son of Bell Garner & Kevin Jones, Kamal plans to major in communications/broadcasting while at WVSU.

*Garrett Grafton* 6'3'' 300, Guard/Tackle. Winfield High School. Grafton, a local product joins the Yellow Jacket family from nearby Winfield High School where he played for head coach Craig Snyder. Grafton was a key contributor up front to the success of Winfield High, even as a junior Grafton earned the Lineman MVP award at Winfield. Grafton plans to major in Education while attending WVSU. Garrett is the son of John Grafton & Sharla Griffith.

*Paul Hammer* 6'1'' 220, Linebacker. Dallas, Texas. Hebron High School. As a junior at Hebron Hammer performed well enough to earn 2011 All-District Honorable Mention as an underclassmen. After recording 82 solo stops, and 10 sacks as a senior for head coach Brian Brazil Hammer was named 2012 Unanimous All-District 1st Team, as well as serving as a team captain for Hebron. Paul is the son of Mike Hammer & Amy Kinser.

*Kurt Jones* 6'2'' 250, Guard. Ona, West Virginia. Cabell Midland High School. Jones excelled in the classroom as well as the playing field earning a sport on the Cabel Midland High School Honor Roll. Jones helped paved the way for one of the most daunted rushing attacks in the state of West Virginia under head coach Luke Salmons. Cabell Midland held the top spot in the state with a number one ranking throughout the entire season, finishing the regular season with a 10-0 record, finishing 13-1 overall, falling just short in the 3A state championship game. Jones helped pave the way up front for an offense that produced three running backs with over 1,000 yards, including one rusher with over 2,000 yards. As a team Cabell Midland finished the year with over 5,000 yards rushing which led the state of West Virginia. Kurt plans to major in Business Management at WVSU. Jones is the son of Tom & Kim Jones.

*T.C. Kester* 5'10'' 175, Safety/Corner. Winfield High School. A local product Kester comes to Institute from Winfield High School where he excelled both in the classroom and the playing field. Kester comes to WVSU with a 3.25 GPA, while earning 4 varsity letters on the football field. Kester earned the coaches award for outstanding play from head coach Craig Snyder, he also performed well enough to earn Honorable Mention honors in the tough MSAC conference. T.C. is the son of Ted & Missy Kester, and plans to major in accounting while attending WVSU.

*Matt Kinnick* 6'1'' 182, Quarterback. St. Clairsville, Ohio. St. Clairsville High School. As a junior, Kinnick was named 3rd Team All-Ohio, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Conference, as well as being name Team MVP as an underclassman. As a senior Kinnick continued to torch through defenses earning 1st Team All-Ohio honors, 1st Team All-Eastern District, as well as 1st Team All-Conference under head coach Brett McLean. One of the top quarterbacks in the state of Ohio, Kinnick led St. Clairsville to a state runner up finish in the Division 4 class. In just two years as a starting QB Kinnick compiled over 6,000 career passing yards, and 70 passing touchdowns. Matt is the son of Michael and Judy Kinnick.

*Jarod Martin* 6'4'' 225, Tight End. Huntington, WV. Huntington High School. Martin who was a multi-talented performer for head coach Billy Seals was a 4 year varsity letterwinner. Martin had a highly decorated career at Huntington High earning four varsity letters, 2011 All-MSAC 1st Team honors as a Punter, 2012 All-MSAC 2nd Team Honors at Punter, 2012 Class AAA All-State Football Special Mention, as well as earning 2012 NUC Combined East Division MVP honors at Tight End. During his senior campaign Martin recorded 2.5 sacks, 61 tackles, averaged 17 yards per catch, as well as averaging 37 yards a punt. Jarod is the son of Ron & Kathy Martin.

*Raleigh Mason* 5'8'' 205, Running Back. Follansbee, WV. Brooke High School. A West Virginia product Mason led the state of West Virginia in tackles as a junior at Brooke High School. As a senior he racked up numerous post season accolades for his performance on the gridiron, racking up First Team All-State honors, First Team All-OVC, as well as earning First Team Track honors. Mason was also selected to represent Brooke High as a Big “22” candidate.

*Dustyn Murphy* 6'3'' 210, Tight End. Mt. Lookout, West Virginia. Nicholas County High School. Murphy comes to Institute where he will add some much needed depth to the Tight End position. An outstanding performer at Nicholas County High Murphy earned 1st Team All-Conference honors for his play at Tight End as well as earning a sport on West Virginia AA All-State Team. Murphy was part of a program that saw plenty of success at Nicholas County under head coach Gene Morris, making it to the first round in the playoffs in 2009 & 2010, topping of his career by making it the second round of the playoffs in 2012 earning the first playoff win in school history. Dustyn plans to major in Criminal Justice at State. He is the son of Brian and Tina Murphy.

*Garrett Peavler* 6'0'' 165, Defensive Back/Quarterback. Lexington, Kentucky. Lafayette High School. Peavler a standout quarterback at Lafayette High School completed his senior season under head coach Carl Hayden with 2,270 yards passing on 166 completions, along with connecting 19 times for touchdowns. Respected by his teammates Peavler was selected as team captain, as well as receiving the team's most valuable offensive player award, as well as the attitude and effort award. In addition to these honors, Peavler was selected by the Lexington-Herald Leader All-City Team. Garrett is the son of Jerry & Billie Peavler, and plans to major in communications while attending WVSU.

*Mitchell Rowell* 5'11'' 235, Linebacker. Gahanna, Ohio. Gahanna Lincoln High School. Rowell had an outstanding playing career at Gahanna helping his team to a 7-3 record and a 3rd place finish in the OCC during his senior season. Rowell's play on the field spoke for itself during the post season when he racked up numerous post season honors including; 2nd Team All-State, 1st Team All-OCC, 1st Team All-District, 2nd Team All-Metro, Agonis Club Player of the week honors for week one of his senior campaign, as well as being named to the Super 25 team. Rowell plans on majoring in Sports Studies while at WVSU. Mitchell is the son of Londale and Sandra Rowell.

*Dalton Shannon* 6'2'' 285, Guard/Center. Ocklawaha, Florida. Belleview High School. Shannon excelled in the classroom as well as the playing field earning a 4.0 GPA during his time at Belleview High School. As a junior Shannon was named to the All-County team, as well as being named All-District, and All-County as a senior. In both his junior and senior campaigns Shannon led his team in both knock down blocks, and graded out higher than any other offensive lineman in both seasons at Belleview for head coach Phillip Yancey. Shannon is the son of CJ & Pamela Shannon, Dalton plans to major in psychology during his time at WVSU.

*Gavin Smith* 5'9'' 155, Kicker. Saint Albans High school. Smith comes to WVSU after an outstanding senior season as Saint Albans High School under head coach Steve Sophl. During his senior season he handled his specialist's duties well enough to earn his team's Special Teams MVP award. Smith plans to major in Criminal Justice at WVSU.

*Geoffrey Walker* 6'2'' 191, Wide Receiver. Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Jefferson High School. Walker not only excelled on the football field but also in the classroom and in the community earning the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Excellence Award, and well as the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Commendation. His performance on the field under head coach Mills, earned him First Team All-Potomac Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. Walker is the son of George & Barbara Walker, Geoffrey plans to major in Business Marketing while at WVSU.

*Akil Washington* 6'2'' 185, Wide Receiver. Capitol Heights, Maryland. Suitland High School. A three year letterman for head coach Ed Shields at Suitland High, Washington recorded 28 receptions for 500 yards as a junior, and another 16 for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns during his senior campaign. Respected highly by his teammates Washington was selected as a team captain at Suitland High School. The All-County selection was also selected to play in the PG vs. SMAC All-Star Game. Washington was in the top five for receiving yards in PG County (4A) in both his junior and senior campaigns, leading his team to a 20-4 record when in the lineup, averaging nearly 19 yards per reception (18.8) during his career at Suitland. Akil is the son of Brian & Michelle Washington, he plans to major in computer science while at WVSU.

*Trent Williamson* 6'0'' 205, Quarterback. Grove City, Ohio. Westfall High School. Williamson excelled in both his junior and senior seasons, earning First Team All-Ohio in both campaigns for head coach Scott Keller. Keller also performed extremely well when it mattered most to his team, earning 2-time district player of the year honors. Williamson also earned 2-time SVC conference player of the year honors. Williamson was a crucial part of his team's success throughout his career, leading his team to playoff appearances in 2011 & 2012, while also capturing the SVC conference crown in 2011 & 2012. Trent is the son of Charles & Kelly Williamson, he plans to major in education while attending WVSU.

*Jamir Wilson* 6'0'' 175, Safety. Germantown, Maryland. Seneca Valley High School. As a senior Wilson earned his team's most outstanding improved player award for his performance on the field for head coach Fred Kim. With Wilson in the Lineup Seneca Valley compiled a 20-4 record throughout his career. As a senior Wilson led Seneca Valley to the regional final, defeating the #1 ranked team in the DMV area. Jamir is the son of Edward & April Wilson. While at WVSU Jamir plans to major in Sports Science.

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Mountain East Conference approved

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference (MEC) announced today that its application for membership has been approved by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee. The MEC will officially become the 25th NCAA Division II conference on Sept. 1, 2013 and immediately assumes active status.

“This is a very exciting time for the Mountain East Conference and our 12 charter institutions,” MEC Commissioner Reid Amos said. “Every one of our schools has great history, great tradition and now a great future as an MEC member. It has been an exhilarating experience to be a part of the formation of a group of like-minded institutions that has laid a strong foundation for a long and successful association.”

The 12 charter members of the nation’s newest NCAA Division II regional all-sports league include nine West Virginia institutions – Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, The University of Charleston, West Liberty University, West Virginia State University, Wheeling Jesuit University, and West Virginia Wesleyan College – along with Notre Dame College and Urbana University from Ohio and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

The formal application process was extremely detailed – the final application document totaled nearly 200 pages when it was filed in December 2012 – but Amos said all that hard work proved to be a blessing in disguise.

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CIAA Files Lawsuit In Federal Court Over Trademark

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association filed a lawsuit in Federal court in reference to people and businesses using the 'CIAA' logo without their permission. 
 
Click HERE to read the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says promoters and retailers must refrain from using the conference's trademark for promotional purposes or on unlicensed merchandise. 
 
This lawsuit comes two weeks before the CIAA basketball tournament begins in Charlotte. This tournament is one of the biggest events held each year in Charlotte.

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Podcast: Southern University athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Some of the topics discussed by Advocate Online Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff and Advocate sportswriter Scott Hotard in this "Final Score" podcast are Southern football recruiting and the Jaguars' first-place men's and women's basketball teams.

Southern takes advantage of Stillman errors in 10-3 victory

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  The Southern baseball team claimed a 10-3, season-opening victory over Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, Ala., on an error-filled Friday night at Pete Goldsby Field.

The Jaguars, who entered the contest having played just two intrasquad scrimmages and with limited on-field practice time due to renovations at Lee-Hines Field, committed three errors and totaled 12 hits.

“All in all, you have to be pleased,” coach Roger Cador said. “We just haven’t had the time on the field. I really feel like we’ll get better as we go along and are able to do more things on the field.”

Southern senior left-hander Jesse Holiday gave his team five solid innings, giving up one earned run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

The Jaguars’ offense — aided by four Stillman first-inning errors — gave Holiday a three-run cushion after one inning that held up.

Tyler Kirksey led off the first inning with an infield single and scored on a throwing error.

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No. 16 ASU Baseball Begins 2013 Season With 5-4 Walk-Off Win over B-CU in 11 Innings

TEMPE, Arizona  --  The 16th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team opened up its 55th season with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over Bethune-Cookman Friday night at Packard Stadium.

A dropped third strike in the bottom of the 11th allowed shortstop Drew Stankiewicz to get to first base with one out, and he was moved to second with a walk by third baseman Michael Benjamin. The next better, center fielder Kasey Coffman, roped a single into center field to score Stankiewicz and give the Sun Devils (1-0) a walk-off win in the first game of the year.

Stankiewicz went 3-for-5 on the night with three runs scored and a RBI, and Coffman registered both the game-tying base knock in the ninth and the game-winning hit in the 11th.

Left-hander Matt Dunbar (1-0) threw a scoreless 11th inning to earn the win, while a pair of freshmen pitchers in right-hander Ryan Burr and left-hander Brett Lilek combined to allow one hit over five innings. 

ASU trailed 4-3 with two outs and no runners on base in the bottom of the ninth inning, but three consecutive base hits by the Devils, including a run-scoring single by Coffman, pushed the game into extra innings.

Starting right-hander Trevor Williams struck out four in five innings and allowed three runs, including two earned, on four hits. Stankiewicz hit his first career home run off the right-field fence in the bottom of the third inning to score the game's first run and give ASU the lead, 1-0.

The Wildcats (0-1) countered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth frame to take a 2-1 advantage. A leadoff walk, followed by an error on second baseman James McDonald, set up consecutive RBI singles before Williams closed out the inning.

Bethune-Cookman tacked on a run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored center fielder Brandon Turner, who reached third on a single, stolen base and a balk.

A pair of RBI by McDonald and catcher Max Rossiter tied the game at three runs apiece in the bottom of the sixth. Coffman began the inning with a single and a stolen base, and a walk by right fielder Trever Allen put two Devils on base with no outs.

McDonald brought Coffman home two batters later with a double to deep center field before Allen crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Rossiter. Burr, who took the mound to start the sixth inning, allowed just one base runner over two innings and struck out three, including the final two batters in the seventh.

Lilek pitched the eighth, ninth and 10th innings and allowed just one run on one hit and a walk while striking out a pair. His wild pitch in the top of the ninth frame gave the Wildcats the go-ahead run.

Up Next:
The Sun Devils face Bethune-Cookman again at 1 p.m. (MT) on Saturday at Packard Stadium. The game will be broadcast live online by Blaze Radio at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/blaze-sports-2 .

Saturday's projected pitching matchup:
ASU - LHP Adam McCreery (0-0, 0.0 ERA)
BCU - LHP Ali Simpson (0-0, 0.0 ERA)

Game Notes: The Sun Devils improved to 43-11-1 all-time in season openers, including a perfect 4-0 under coach Tim Esmay...Esmay is just the second coach in school history to start his career with four consecutive season-opening wins...ASU has not lost a season opener since 2006...attendance was 2,019...seven former Sun Devils were in attendance, including Erik Averill and Brett Bordes, and current minor leaguers Jake Barrett, Robert Ravago, Brady Rodgers, Abe Ruiz and Riccio Torrez...the Sun Devils stole three bases (Coffman - 6th, 7th; Stankiewicz - 5th).

Box Score

Twitter: @ASU_Baseball | Facebook: Sun Devil Baseball | Instagram: ASU_Baseball


COURTESY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Renda Throws No-Hitter: ASU Hornets Blank Chicago State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  T.J. Renda threw a no-hitter and Richard Amion's inside-the-park grand slam led Alabama State to a 14-0 win over Chicago State in the season opener for both teams Friday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Renda threw 123 pitches, 83 for strikes, walked one, hit one batter, and struck out a career-high 15. He faced just two batters over the minimum as no Chicago State player reached second base. Renda struck out the side in the fifth and in the ninth, fanning Mattingly Romanin for the final out, sending the crowd into a frenzy as Renda was mobbed by his teammates.

“Throughout the game, I knew it was going pretty well,” said Renda, an Orlando, Fla. native. “As the game progressed, my adrenaline kept pumping more and more and I knew I had it.”



Renda got the classic silent treatment in the dugout from his teammates as the game progressed.

“No one really talked to me in the dugout; I had to sit by myself,” Renda said. “They kind of ignored me. When I went out there, I just didn't hear anything. I just focused on (catcher Richard Gonzalez') glove.”

The no-hitter capped off a strong season-opening performance by the Hornets, who gave head coach Mervyl Melendez his 400^th career win.

“He was amazing tonight,” Melendez said of Renda. “He threw three pitches for strikes. He was locating very well. The key for him was he got stronger as the game went on. I'm very happy for him for the performance that he had on the mound tonight.”

Amion broke open a 6-0 game in the sixth with an inside-the-park grand slam to right center field, the first of his career. Amion also tripled and drove home a run on his career-high 5 RBI night as the Hornets had 14 hits, seven of them for extra bases. “I thought we did a good job,” Melendez said. “We put the ball in play. We got some big base hits, highlighted by Amion's inside-the-park grand slam, which you don't see often. Great performance by a lot of players, and it was special not only because of the no-hitter but also that it was our home opener. It was a good way to start the season.”

The teams play game two of the three-game series Saturday at 6 p.m., with game three Sunday at noon.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

XU duals with Oklahoma Baptist will be resumed Saturday

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Xavier University of Louisiana's tennis duals with Oklahoma Baptist were suspended at approximately 10:45 p.m. Friday after a 40-minute rain delay and a power failure about 20 minutes after play resumed.

The matches will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday with the Gold Rush leading 4-2 and the Gold Nuggets trailing 3-2. The XU men are ranked eighth and the women 13th in the NAIA; Oklahoma Baptist's women are ranked 18th.

"OBU's men should be in the top 25, too," XU coach Alan Green said. "They look good. It feels like a match we would play at nationals."

The Gold Rush won twice in doubles and twice in singles. Loic Didavi and Kyle Montrel defeated Marco Carvajal and Dario Macanovic 8-1 at No. 1 doubles, and Nikita Soifer and Viktor Svoboda won the last five games to beat Augustin Janssen and Gonzalo Garzon 9-7 at No. 2. Svoboda was first off the court in singles after his 6-0, 6-0 decision against Kolt Byerly at No. 4. Montrel defeated Macanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

The other three Gold Rush singles players -- Didavi, Soifer and Benjamin Brading -- were in third sets when the lights at the Prairie View A&M University Tennis Complex went off and could not be turned on again.

Amanda Materre contributed to both of the Gold Nuggets' points. Materre and Simone-Alyse Ewell defeated Mariana Rosa and Camden Rodriguez 8-0 at No. 2 doubles. Materre defeated Rosa 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.

The Gold Rush will play NAIA No. 10 Bethany (Kan.) at 2 p.m. Saturday. The women will not play Saturday. Both teams will conclude their trip with 9 a.m. Sunday duals against Prairie View.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Bethune-Cookman at No. 20 Arizona State

Bethune-Cookman at No. 20 ASU

When: 6:30 Friday night, 1 p.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: ASU update: The Sun Devils are on the road next week against Tennessee, then play No.1 Arkansas twice at the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise.
Stadium: Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark - Tempe, Ariz.
Bethune-Cookman update: The Wildcats from Daytona Beach, Fla., have won seven consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and again are favored to take the MEAC South. Montana Durapau will start on the mound Friday night. IF Shaun McCarty is from Camp Verde and a transfer from Paradise.

Game Notes - Bethune-Cookman at ASU

LISTEN: RADIO -The Blaze -  FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY

Pitching Matchup


Friday:

ASU - RHP Trevor Williams (12-2, 2.05 ERA)
BC - RHP Montana Durapau (4-7, 3.86)

\Saturday:

ASU - LHP Adam McCreery (2-0, 1.32 ERA)
BC - LHP Ali Simpson (2-1, 4.30 ERA)

Sunday-

ASU - RHP Darin Gillies (1-4, 5.03 ERA)
BC - RHP Scott Garner (4-4, 6.00 ERA)

Devils vs. Bethune-Cookman and the MEAC:
This is the first time in school history ASU has faced Bethune-Cookman from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). This is also the first time the Devils have played an opponent from the MEAC.

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Gold Nuggets return to top 10, Gold Rush drop to 14th

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's women climbed, but the men dropped back in the NAIA Division I Coaches' Top 25 polls announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Gold Nuggets were 10th — their fourth time in nine polls this season to reach the top 10. The Gold Rush were 14th after falling three places. Both teams were 11th the previous week.

Xavier is one of six women's teams — the others are Campbellsville, Freed-Hardeman, Lee (Tenn.), Oklahoma City and Vanguard — to be ranked in every top 25 since the start of the 2010-11 season. The Gold Nuggets have appeared in the last 40 polls, the sixth-longest active streak.

Although the XU men equaled their biggest drop of the season, it's their fifth consecutive top-15 appearance. The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 20th consecutive time, fourth longest among NAIA DI men. Xavier was fifth in that category a week ago, but Rogers State fell out after 24 consecutive appearances.

Both the Gold Nuggets (21-4 overall, 9-2 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) and the Gold Rush (21-6, 8-3) share first place in the conference — the women with Talladega and city rival SUNO, and the men with Philander Smith. Both XU teams will travel to SUNO on Saturday for a doubleheader at The Castle. And for the second time in four days, the starting times have changed. The women's game will tip off at 3 p.m., followed by the men's game at 5.

The next XU home games will be their regular-season finales, Feb. 23 against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at the new Convocation Center. Starting times that day also will be 3 and 5 p.m.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA