Martin-Julien leads Rush to 2OT win at GCAC tourney

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore guard Lucas Martin-Julien, playing for the first time in 10 games, scored 11 of Xavier University of Louisiana's final 13 points Friday in a 94-92 double-overtime men's basketball victory against Tougaloo in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Dillard's Dent Hall.
    
The Gold Rush (20-11), seeded fourth, will play top-seeded and two-time defending champion Talladega (23-4) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at Xavier's Convocation Center. Xavier will be the site of all men's and women's games this weekend.
    
Talladega, ranked fourth in NAIA Division I, had a first-round bye.
    
Martin-Julien scored a career-high 20 points, all after halftime, in his first game since an injury Jan. 18 at home against Tougaloo. His basket at the end of the first overtime — it hit the back of the rim and bounced up before landing in the basket — tied the score at 86. He scored Xavier's final seven points, including a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining.
    
"I just wanted to win," Martin-Julien said. "I wanted our team to get to the next round. We've worked so hard to get here."
    
Morris Wright scored 16 points for Xavier, Elex Carter had a career-high 14, and Chris Ward had 13. Wright tied the score at 78 with a 3-pointer at the top of the key — the final score of regulation — with 30 seconds remaining.
    
Quintarius Porter scored 26 points, Andravious Smith 25, De'Andre Scott 17 and Gardner Dixon 16 for Tougaloo (13-12), the No. 5 seed.
    
Tougaloo led by 17 points in each half and 47-34 at halftime. Xavier rallied by outshooting the Bulldogs 55.9 to 31.8 percent from the floor after halftime. For the game, Xavier outshot Tougaloo 49.2 to 39.7 percent.
    
Xavier, a 67-63 loser at Dillard this past Saturday in its regular-season finale, played back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2000. It was the first time since 2004 that the Gold Rush won a multiple-overtime game, and it was the first time since 1993 that Xavier won in overtime in the postseason.
    
The Gold Rush reached 20 victories for the sixth consecutive season, which tied a school record, and the 31st time overall, which still is the Louisiana men's collegiate record. Wright became the fifth XU player to reach 1,500 career points — he has 1,510 — and the first since Merlin Peters, who scored a school-record 1,960 from 1989-93.
    
Talladega won both regular-season meetings against Xavier, including 62-58 in overtime Jan. 25 at Xavier.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush win, Gold Nuggets lose at William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — Tushar Mandlekar defeated Bruno Lopez Garcia 6-1, 6-2 Friday to clinch a 6-2 dual-match victory for Xavier University of Louisiana against William Carey in a matchup of top-10 NAIA men's tennis teams.
    
The Gold Rush (6-3), ranked third, won for the sixth time in seven duals and beat the Crusaders (3-5), ranked 10th, for the second time this season.
    
William Carey's women, ranked sixth, defeated the Gold Nuggets, ranked 14th, 6-1.
    
Winning in doubles and singles for Xavier's men were Thomas Setodji, Karan Salwan and Kyle Montrel. Setodji, playing No. 1 singles, defeated Vivien Versier 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 7-6 (10-8).
    
Xavier's men have six victories against top-10 NAIA teams in the last two seasons.
    
The Gold Nuggets scored their only point when freshman Charlene Goreau rallied to defeat Nataliia Baliaeva 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 at the top singles flight. Xavier's Brandi Nelson lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Daria Veretennikova, the ITA's 13th-ranked player in the NAIA's South Region.
    
The Gold Nuggets will play NAIA No. 18 LSU-Alexandria at 1 p.m. Saturday at XU Tennis Center, and both XU teams will play host to William Woods — whose women are ranked 23rd — at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Results:  Men   •   Women

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Wiley's Colquitt Red River Athletics Conference top freshman, Bernstine selected to first team

WILEY, Texas  -- Wiley College freshman point guard Lamaza "Ty" Colquitt was named Red River Athletics Conference Freshman of the Year Thursday.

Colquitt recorded 84 assists and was ranked sixth in the RRAC entering Thursday's opening round game against Louisiana State University-Shreveport. The freshman guard from Irving, Texas, led the team in 3-pointers with 45.



Alexis Bernstine (JR/Shreveport, Louisiana) was also selected to the RRAC All-Conference First Team. She was one of the top players in the conference in rebounds with 235 for an average of 8.7 per game. Bernstine was the second leading scorer on the Lady Wildcats with 12.3 points per game. This season, Bernstine recorded her 500^th career rebound.

Anika Nottingham (JR/Trinidad) was selected to the RRAC All-Conference Second Team. She was the leading scorer on the Lady Wildcats with 12.7 points per game. She was the second leading rebounder on the team with 196.

Kirbi Clark (SR/Houston, TX) and Bria Jackson (JR/Irving, Texas) earned honorable mentions. During her three-year career, Clark helped the Lady Wildcats have their most successful season with a run to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament Fab Four in 2014. This season, Clark was among the national leaders in blocks with 35. She recorded her 500^th rebound against Louisiana State University-Alexandria on January 16. Clark finished her career with 598 rebounds.

In her second season with the Lady Wildcats, Jackson saw significant playing time and made 11 starts. She averaged 9.1 points per game and was second in the team in 3-pointers made with 33.

Elayne Robinson (SR/Vicksburg, MS) earned a spot on the RRAC Champions of Character Team.

COURTESY WILEY COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

XU Gold Nuggets advance in tourney by defeating Dillard

NEW ORLEANS — Trana Hopkins scored 16 points Friday, and Xavier University of Louisiana outscored Dillard in every quarter of a 71-57 women's basketball victory in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at SUNO's The Castle.
     
The Gold Nuggets (20-11), seeded third, will play second-seeded Edward Waters (21-8) in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday at Xavier's Convocation Center. All women's and men's games this weekend will be played at Xavier.
    
Hopkins, who averaged 9.1 points during the regular season, reached double figures for the third consecutive game. Her two free throws at the end of the first quarter put Xavier ahead to stay, 15-13.
    
Whitney Gathright had 15 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Gold Nuggets, Donyeah Mayfield had 10 points and six rebounds, and Kelsee Singleton had eight points and a career-high-tying three steals.
    
Shaelynn Moore and Alena Evans scored 14 points apiece for Dillard (9-17), and Keona Favis had 11. The Lady Bleu Devils, who lost 63-57 at home to Xavier in the regular-season finale last weekend, dropped their final six games after a 57-52 victory Feb. 6 at Xavier.
    
The Gold Nuggets made 24-of-28 free throws, 15-of-18 in the final period. Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. Xavier was plus-6 in rebounds and turnovers.
    
Bo Browder-coached Xavier teams are 7-0 all-time against Dillard in the GCAC Tournament.
    
Edward Waters, which split two games with Xavier during the regular season, defeated seventh-seeded Tougaloo 64-52 Friday.

BOX SCORE 

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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#1 LSUA Generals Go for RRAC Championship against Langston University Lions

The game can be viewed through the RRAC Network.

LONGVIEW, Texas -- The rubber match between #1 LSUA and #13 Langston will determine the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship when the two meet in the Tournament Finals Saturday evening at LeTourneau University's Solheim Arena.

The Generals (28-2, 17-1 RRAC) are riding the nation's longest win streak in men's basketball at 21 games. Their latest victim, the LSU Shreveport Pilots, who LSUA beat 90-75 in the semifinals on Friday night.

Langston (24-6, 15-3 RRAC) is the last team to defeat the Generals, done way back on December 3^rd, 82-78 in overtime at Langston. Daniel Mulamba had a career night that night against LSUA, scoring 20 points in the win.

But LSUA exacted a measure of revenge on February 5^th, defeating the Lions 65-63 at The Fort. Both Jordin Williams and Brian Sylvester each led the way in the win with 16 points each. That win put the Generals alone in first place in the conference to stay on their way to their second straight conference regular season championship.

The Lions are led by Curtis Jones, who averages 15.6 points per game. He scored 26 points in Langston's 71-65 semifinal win over Our Lady of the Lake. Mike Harris averages 13 points a contest, while Terrell Jones puts down 12.1 points each time out. Renard Green rounds out their leaders at 11.4 points per game.

LSUA continues to be led by RRAC player of the year, DeAngelo Coleman, who averages 14.5 points per game. Brian Sylvester, the NAIA blocks champ and RRAC defender of the year, averages 12.3 points per game and three blocks per contest. Darius Johnson has raised his scoring average to 10.3 points per game.

Both LSUA and Langston have clinched automatic berths into the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Tip off in the RRAC Tournament Championship Game is set for 5:00 PM in the Solheim Arena.

COURTESY LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY - ALEXANDRIA ATHLETICS

Langston University's Clark, Lewis, Mason Selected to RRAC All-Conference Team

WACO, Texas – The Red River Athletic Conference unveiled the 2015-16 All-Conference selections on Thursday, March 3 with three athletes receiving honors.

T'Keya Mason (SR/Long Beach, CA) and Che'Ron Lewis (JR/Cushing, OK) both were selected to the first-team; Mason is currently the second leader scorer in the RRAC at 18.6 points per game and ninth in the NAIA in scoring. Lewis is second on the team in scoring and fourth in the RRAC at 17.6 points per game.

Darreion Clark (JR/Tulsa, OK) was the final selection for Langston; she was chosen for the RRAC honorable mention team after averaging 9.1 points per game and 3.8 rebounds.

Langston (20-6, 14-4) faces Huston-Tillotson on Friday, March 4 in second round action of the RRAC tournament at LeTourneau University. For more information on the RRAC tournament, click here.

COURTESY LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Lincoln Blue Tigers Fall to Nebraska-Kearney in Overtime at MIAA Tourney

KANSAS CITY, Missouri  -- The Lincoln men's basketball team used a 22-5 run to rally from a first half deficit and force overtime, but Nebraska-Kearney made a three-pointer in the final minute to defeat the Blue Tigers, 82-78, in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Men's Basketball Championship on Friday (March 4).

The Blue Tigers trailed by as many as 13 early in the second-half, but a layup by Jaylon Smith following a Richie Lewis steal sparked a run that turned a 47-34 deficit into a 56-52 Lincoln lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Lincoln (16-14) held onto the lead for the next five minutes before Nebraska-Kearney (19-10) hit a layup to tie the game at 60.

Anthony Virdure broke the tie with a three-pointer, but a UNK layup cut the LU lead down to one. Lewis made a pair of free throws to build the advantage back up to three, but the Lopers quickly hit a shot from downtown to the game at 65. A tip-in followed by a pair of free throws gave UNK a 69-65 lead entering the final minute of regulation, but Virdure made a layup to pull the Blue Tigers back to within two.

Lincoln fouled on its ensuing possession, and the Lopers hit just one of their shots at the line to keep LU within three. Smith then made two shots from the charity stripe in Lincoln's possession to cut the Loper lead down to 70-69. Lincoln was forced to foul, and UNK once again went 1-for-2 at the line, giving the Blue Tigers a chance for a tie.

Smith ended up being fouled on a layup attempt, and calmly hit both free throws to knot the score at 71 with nine seconds left on the clock. The Blue Tiger defense stymied any good looks at the basket for the Lopers, and a three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the backboard to send the game into overtime.

After the teams exchanged layups to open the extra period, Nebraska-Kearney made a pair of free throws for a 75-73 lead at the 3:32 mark. The teams once again traded layups before a shot by Smith made it 77-77 for the 12th tie of the contest with 33 seconds remaining. Smith was fouled on the play and made the and-one, giving LU a one-point lead with 33 seconds remaining.

Nebraska-Kearney used about 20 seconds of the shot clock before Connor Beranek found Trey Lansman open near the top of the key. Lansman's shot went through the net, giving UNK the two-point lead with 14 seconds remaining. Virdure ran the ball down the court before attempting a three-pointer that ricocheted off the rim. The Lopers got the rebound and made a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Lewis came very close to a triple-double, scoring 17 points and tying for the team-lead with nine rebounds while dishing eight assists. Lewis also had three steals. Smith and Rod Ollison also came close to doubling-up, with Smith tallying a team-high 25 points and eight rebounds to go with an assist and a block. Ollison, meanwhile, had eight points and nine boards to go with a block and a steal.

Virdure also scored in double figures, finishing with 18 points, four boards and a steal. O'Shai Clark and Aaron Spudich each added four points apiece, with Clark also grabbing four rebounds, dishing two assists and tallying a block. Spudich contributed two boards and a steal. Tacourrus Mattox, meanwhile, rounded out the scoring with two points, three rebounds, an assist and a block.



Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Stillman Tigers Advance to SIAC Championship

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Stillman took on the Lane Dragons in the semifinals of the SIAC Basketball Championship Tournament on Friday night in Bill Harris Arena at the CrossPlex in Birmingham. For the first time since 2011, the Tigers will play for a conference championship after a 78-73 win.

In a physical game that saw 49 combined personal fouls, and six technical fouls, Stillman (25-5) was able to hold the lead for all but 2:38 of the game. While the Tigers perimeter shooting struggled, they were able to dominate in the paint. Stillman scored nearly half of their points inside (36) and another third from the charity stripe (29).

Antonio Penny led the way for the Tigers. Penny finished with 12 points five steals and four assists. Maurice Crenshaw came off the bench to lead Stillman in scoring with 14 points. SIAC Player of the Year Rodnerius Lewis added 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Newcomer of the Year Ronald Singleton chipped in 11 points for Stillman.

Stillman will look to capture their first conference title since 2006. The Tigers made it to the championship game in 2011, but fell to Clark Atlanta. In order to win the SIAC title, Stillman will have to defeat LeMoyne-Owen. The two teams faced off on January 30^th in Memphis, with the Tigers coming away with an 89-84 win in overtime. The win was Coach Jackson's 100^th career victory. The game will be played in the Bill Harris Arena at the CrossPlex on Saturday night, March 4^th, at 7:00 PM.

BOX SCORE



COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION 

Xavier Nuggets' Allen sets school record in season opener

CLARKE ALLEN
Height: 5-4
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Mendenhall, Mississippi
High School: Mendenhall

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana sophomore Clarke Allen triple-jumped 35 feet, 7 3/4 inches (10.86 meters) Friday to break a women's school record in the Tulane Invitational at Tad Gormley Stadium.
    
It was Xavier's first meet of the outdoor track and field season. There was no team scoring.
    
Allen, who finished second in the event, broke the XU record of 35-5 3/4 (10.81 meters) set by Chelsea Broussard at the 2013 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Allen's best mark of 2015 was 33-7 1/2 (10.25 meters).
    
The record is Allen's second at Xavier. She's a member of the 400-meter relay squad which set that mark at the 2015 NAIA National Championships.
    
Xavier posted three other top-3 finishes. Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Katelynn McMorris and Allen placed third in the 400 relay (48.69 seconds), and Allen, Kailey Williams, Terri Cunningham and Kayla Quincy ran third in the 1,600 relay (4:00.22). For Xavier's men, freshman Keairez Coleman was third in the triple jump in 43-9 (13.33) — the best Gold Rush mark of the last four seasons.
    
Senior Christopher Kennie was fifth in the long jump at 21-6 1/4 (6.56), his best mark since April 2013. Destini Thomas' time of 12.74 in the women's 100 was 22 hundredths of a second faster than her top time a year ago.
    
"It was a good start to the season," XU coach Joseph Moses said. "We got to see a lot of our athletes in action and a lot of new faces. There were quite a few nervous people — lots of friends, classmates and family members watching — but we overcame our nerves. We'll learn from this and start working on dropping times and better marks in the upcoming meets."
    
Xavier will compete three more times this month, beginning with the McNeese Cowboy Relays at Lake Charles, La., March 12.
    
Here are all the Xavier results from the Tulane Invitational:
     
Women     
100:  Destini Thomas, 8th in 12.74     
1,500:  Maliya Vaughn, 5th in 5:15.32; Brianna Pace, 6th in 5:16.07     
100 Hurdles:  Tylor Row, 9th in 15.85; Terri Cunningham, 14th in 18.75     
400 Relay:  Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Clarke Allen, Katelyn McMorris, 3rd in 48.69; Martina Wright, Dorian Hill, Janelle Jones, Alexis Milton, 5th in 50.08.     
800:  Maliya Vaughn, 5th in 2:29.53; Brianna Pace, 7th in 2:31.61; Dionysia Love, 9th in 2:40.49
1,600 Relay:  Clarke Allen, Kailey Williams, Terri Cunningham, Kayla Quincy, 3rd in 4:00.22; Alexis Milton, Janelle Jones, Chinyere Jones, Ky'Reon McBride, 5th in 4:09.65
3,000:  Dionysia Love, 5th in 11:39.41; Hannah Finnegan, 7th in 13:21.92
200:  Kayla Quincy, 13th in 26.52; Alexis Milton, 14th in 26.60; Katelyn McMorris, 16th in 26.76; Martina Wright, 17th in 26.79; Kee-Myah Henderson, 19th in 27.29; Chelsea James, 20th in 27.81
400:  Ky'Reon McBride, 8th in 1:01.56; Janelle Jones, 9th in 1:01.78
Javelin:  Drew Chatters, 6th in 34.40 meters (112 feet, 10 inches)
Long Jump:  Dorian Hill, 6th in 4.86 meters (15 feet, 11 1/2 inches); Katelyn McMorris, 8th in 4.50 meters (14 feet, 9 1/4 inches)
High Jump:  Terri Cunningham, 5th in 1.50 meters (4 feet, 11 inches); Chinyere Jones, 6th in 1.45 meters (4 feet, 9 inches)

Men
200:  Ethan Gipson, 14th in 23.48
3,000:  Christopher August, 9th in 9:50.49; Darrick Williams, 11th in 10:35.40
800:  Ammiel Williams, 11th in 2:04.71; Felipe Perrier, 15th in 2:22.59
400:  Ammiel Williams, 11th in 54.61; Felipe Perrier, 12th in 56.98 
Triple Jump:  Keairez Coleman, 3rd in 13.33 meters (43 feet, 9 inches); Christopher Kennie, 6th in 11.79 meters (38 feet, 8 1/4 inches)
Long Jump: Christopher Kennie, 5th in 6.56 meters (21 feet, 6 1/4 inches); Keairez Coleman, 11th in 6.19 meters (20 feet, 3 3/4 inches)


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Gold Rush climb 2 spots to 29th in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana improved its position Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Gold Rush (19-11) received five more points than a week ago and climbed from 31st to 29th.
    
Xavier is seeded fourth in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, which will begin Friday with men's games at Dillard's Dent Hall and women's games at SUNO's The Castle. The Gold Rush will play fifth-seeded Tougaloo (13-11) at 2 p.m. The other men's games Friday will match third-seeded Philander Smith (13-15) vs. sixth-seeded Edward Waters (12-16) at noon and second-seeded Dillard (18-10) vs. seventh-seeded SUNO (7-16) at 5 p.m.
    
Regular-season champion Talladega (24-4) has a first-round bye and will play the Xavier-Tougaloo winner at 2 p.m. Saturday. All Saturday and Sunday competition — the men's and women's semifinals and championship games — will be conducted at Xavier's Convocation Center.
    
In the coaches poll, Talladega dropped to fourth place after tying for third a week ago. Dillard remained 25th. LSU-Alexandria is No. 1 for the fifth consecutive week and, for the second straight week, received all the first-place votes.
    
Xavier defeated Tougaloo 85-72 in the 2015 GCAC Tournament semifinals and won both regular-season meetings against the Bulldogs in 2015-16. The Gold Rush rank second in NAIA Division I in field-goal percentage defense (.385) and scoring defense (62.3).
    
GCAC Tournament ticket prices: $10 for floor seats (at Xavier only), $5 general admission and free to students of GCAC institutions with a valid college ID.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Feb. 28)   Rank Team Record Points Last 1 LSU-Alexandria (9) 27-2 219 1 2 Georgetown (Ky.) 25-3 212 2 3 Biola 27-3 199 8 4 Talladega 24-4 197 tie-3 5 Pikeville 25-4 195 7 6 Lewis-Clark State 26-4 182 6 7 Hope International 25-5 177 5 8 Texas Wesleyan 23-6 169 tie-3 9 Columbia (Mo.) 25-5 161 12 10 William Penn 24-6 152 11 11-tie MidAmerica Nazarene 23-7 148 10 11-tie Freed-Hardeman 24-6 148 9 13 Langston 22-6 142 13 14 Mid-America Christian 22-8 122 14 15 Arizona Christian 22-7 110 tie-15 16 Peru State 21-9 109 18 17 William Carey 20-10 107 19 18 Our Lady of the Lake 19-7 102 tie-15 19 Park 19-8 99 tie-15 20 Carroll (Mont.) 20-8 93 21 21 Cumberlands 20-10 70 20 22 Oklahoma City 15-9 68 tie-25 23 Montana Western 19-11 67 tie-22 24 William Jessup 18-9 57 tie-22 25 Dillard 18-10 37 tie-25        Dropped from rankings:  No. 24 Westmont        Others receiving votes:  Westmont 35, LSU-Shreveport 33, Campbellsville 30, Xavier 22, Southwestern Assemblies of God 21, Dalton State 17 Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold

Western Michigan Baseball Outhits FAMU, but Drops the Second Game of the Series

COURTESY WMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Western Michigan baseball team outhit the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champion Florida A&M, but the Rattlers still beat the Broncos 9-0 at Moore-Kittles Field.

WMU falls to 0-8 this season in a game where they produced their highest hit total of the year while FAMU improves to 6-5 and has now won three straight games.

The Broncos had chances to score, finishing with 11 hits and three walks and put at least one runner on in every inning besides the ninth. In the top of the second inning, Hunter Prince led the inning off with a double down the right field line and Jesse Forestell singled to right center to put runners on the corners with no outs. In top of the third, the Broncos had runners on first and third with two down. In the top of the sixth, WMU loaded the bases with nobody out after a Rattler error, a Forestell single and an Alex Goodwin bunt single.

In the top of the eighth inning with no outs and runners on first and second, Connor Smith lined out to the third baseman, but it looked as though the ball was trapped. FAMU threw the ball to second to tag one runner out and stepped on the base to get the third runner out for not tagging up. The WMU runners played the ball as if it was not caught.

FAMU took an early lead with one run in each the second and third innings. The inning started with a hit batsman while the Rattlers also drew a one-out walk. Shane Gordon hit an RBI single to left field to score the first run. In the bottom of the third with two outs, the Rattlers had back-to-back singles after a walk to plate another run and go up 2-0.

The Rattlers extended their lead to 5-0 with a big fourth inning that included three hits, one walk and a hit batsman. With one out, FAMU had a walk, hit batsman, RBI single, RBI double and an RBI single in that order. Sophomore Jake Bartels entered to get the final out of the inning. FAMU added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it 9-0 off four hits and three walks.

Tanner Allison suffered the loss, pitching 3.0 innings allowing two runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Nic Laio pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings to finish out the game and struck out one batter as well. The Broncos used five pitchers in the game.

Forestell finished 3-for-4, Steve Pastora went 2-for-4 and Goodwin went 2-for-2. Nelson finished with a double, his third of the season. Prince also hit his first double of the season. Catcher Mitchell Ho threw out both runners that tried to steal on him.

The Broncos and Rattlers square off again tomorrow for the final game of the series. First pitch will come at 1 p.m. with Derek Schneider scheduled to take the mound for the Broncos.

COURTESY WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Ram Ramblings: Lincoln (Pa.) fans, alumni fighting back after firing of John Hill

Courtesy: The LU Athletics
Coach John Hill

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- I always find it rather amusing when a CIAA school fires a coach for vague reasons.

My first reaction to the coach being fired, in this case John Hill of Lincoln (Pa.), is always this. “Well, who are they going to get, John Wooden?”

I’ve known Hill a long time. Back when I first started covering WSSU 20 years ago he was a young assistant with Sam Hanger during those wild years not too long after Big House Gaines was forced into retirement.

Hill has bounced around the CIAA for several years but had seemingly found a home at Lincoln (Pa.), a school that has about zero basketball tradition. But Hill and his scrappy brand of 6-2 guards always have played with a chip on their shoulder.

So after Hill and the Lions beat WSSU for their first CIAA Tournament victory in a long time late last month it was historic. The win was the first for Lincoln (Pa.) in the tournament since rejoining the CIAA in 2010.

But that win wasn’t enough to save Hill’s job.

It’s no secret that when a school gets a new chancellor or president or a new athletics director they all want to make their marks in a hurry. But in this case the fans and alumni (yes, Lincoln has some of those) have started a petition to reinstate Hill.

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ASU Baseball Takes Game One Of Series Against Jackson State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Joseph Camacho hurled seven strong innings, and Ray Hernandez hit his second home run in as many games as Alabama State defeated Jackson State 7-2 in game one of their SWAC-opening series at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

The Hornets (4-5 overall, 1-0 SWAC) won their third straight game in opening league play with a win for the third time in five seasons under Mervyl Melendez.

"It's important, especially against one of the better teams in the conference," Melendez said in winning the conference opener. "You're playing at home, you're setting the tone, and you have Camacho on the hill. Starting with a victory is important to us, and to the guys' confidence."

Camacho won for the first time this season (1-0), allowing only four hits, two runs, walking two, and striking out a season-high eight.

"I thought he was stellar," Melendez said of Camacho, the two-time SWAC Pitcher of the Year who improved to 27-4 in his ASU career, and is 23-1 since 2014. "He made one bad pitch the entire game, leaving a fast ball up that should have only allowed one run. I'm very happy with his performance."

Alabama State scored in the first inning. Yamil Pagan beat out an infield single to third, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored on a Carlos Ocasio double to center field to put the Hornets on the board. With two outs, Hernandez singled to left field to give Alabama State a 2-0 lead.

After Jackson State (5-4, 0-1) tied the score in the second, the Hornets scored at least one run in the fourth-seventh innings. Dillon Cooper was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth, and eventually scored on a two-out wild pitch to give Alabama State the lead for good, 3-2.

The Hornets took advantage of Jackson State miscues in the next two innings. A pair of errors led to a fifth-inning run and a 4-2 lead. In the sixth, Chris Biocic walked, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With the bases loaded and one out, Pagan's sacrifice fly to right field scored Biocic. With two outs, Gustavo Rios scored on a passed ball for a 6-2 lead.

In the seventh, Hernandez drilled a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for his third home run of the season, capping off his second straight three-hit game.

"He's seeing the ball very well right now," Melendez said of Hernandez, who is now hitting a career-best .323 this season as the Hornets hit at least one home run for the fifth straight game. "He's locked in, and has produced some great at-bats. He's really hitting the ball hard, and squaring the baseball on the bat. The last six hits he's had have all been line drives, and that's been the impressive part."

Game two of the series is Saturday at 2 p.m., and game three Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Ricky Page’s Strong Outing Lifts Florida A&M Rattlers to 2-1 Win Over Western Michigan Broncos

Ricky Page tied a career high with 7.0 innings pitched in the win.
 Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida A&M (5-5) held Western Michigan (0-7) scoreless over the final six innings en route to a 2-1 win at Moore-Kittles Field on Friday. The Rattlers scored two run in the second inning and it proved to be all they would need for the victory. FAMU starter Ricky Page (1-0) earned the win with a strong outing as he tied a career long with seven innings pitched. Page allowed just one run as the Broncos scattered four hits with a season-high four strikeouts. The pitching staff only allowed two hits over the final seven innings of play.

Hunter Fillingim earned the save as he came in to record the final two outs of the ninth inning, including a strikeout for the final out to end the game.

The Rattlers scored their only two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but it proved to be enough. Jacky Miles, Jr. drew a lead off walk and came around to score from first as Brian Davis roped an RBI double into left center field. Davis then moved up a base to third as Shane Gordon put down a nice sac bunt. AJ Elkins would plate Davis with an RBI single to left for the second run of the inning.

Western Michigan’s only run came in the top of the third inning that cut the Rattler lead to 2-1. Connor Smith drew a lead off walk, stole second and went to third on a groundout by Grant Miller before scoring on Nick Vogelmeier’s groundout to short.

In the fifth inning, the Broncos had a chance to tie or take the lead as they loaded the bases with one out but were unable to score. Smith reached on a fielder’s choice and Miller was hit-by-pitch before Vogelmeier’s bunt single loaded the bases with one out. Steve Pastora then went down swinging on a strikeout from Page and Tanner Allison grounded out to first to end the scoring threat.

Brandon Fleming, Ryan Kopenski and Fillingim combined to keep the Broncos hitless over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Broncos starter Keegan Akin (0-2) suffered the loss after giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Akin had only walked two batters on the year coming in to today’s game.
Florida A&M and Western Michigan continue their three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @BaseballFAMU and on Facebook.

BOX SCORE

COURTESH FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

No. 14 Gold Nuggets to play 3 ranked teams in a row

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, 14th Tuesday in the third NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the season, will have a challenging next three days.
    
The Gold Nuggets (4-3) will play No. 6 William Carey at noon Friday in Hattiesburg, Miss., then return home to play No. 18 LSU-Alexandria at 1 p.m. Saturday and No. 23 William Woods at 11 a.m. Sunday at XU Tennis Center.
    
Xavier already has lost this season to William Carey (6-3 at home Feb. 6) and LSUA (6-3 Feb. 13 on the road).
    
Xavier is in the top 25 for the 33rd consecutive time and the 78th time in the last 88 polls. The Gold Nuggets are among the top 15 for the 30th straight time.
    
Defending champion Auburn Montgomery received 12-of-13 first-place votes and remained No. 1. The top seven teams are the same as they were in the previous poll Feb. 16. William Woods is one of three newcomers in this week's top 25.
    
Admission is free to all matches at XU Tennis Center.
    
SCHEDULE NOTES:  XU coach Alan Green said the Friday dual against William Carey was moved up three hours and to the Crusaders' campus courts . . . The start time against LSUA was pushed back two hours . . . A March 10 home dual against Western Kentucky was canceled . . . Added were road duals March 22 at St. Thomas (Fla.) and March 23 at Keiser. Both will start at 2 p.m. EDT.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Feb. 28) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Auburn Montgomery (12) 6-1 343 1 2 Georgia Gwinnett (1) 2-1 332 2 3 Lindsey Wilson 3-3 317 3 4 SCAD Savannah 6-1 311 4 5 Cardinal Stritch 2-1 295 5 6 William Carey 5-4 291 6 7 Brenau 3-2 280 7 8 Arizona Christian 7-0 258 9 9 Keiser 2-5 250 8 10 Westmont 3-2 240 10 11 Northwestern Ohio 4-4 234 11 12 Middle Georgia 5-4 222 RV 13 Cumberland 1-2 201 12 14 Xavier 4-3 194 tie-13 15-tie Indiana Wesleyan 17-0 179 16 15-tie Olivet Nazarene 1-2 179 15 17 Lewis-Clark State 2-10 171 tie-13 18 LSU-Alexandria 4-3 154 22 19 Davenport 4-3 153 17 20 McPherson 0-0 133 18 21 Southeastern (Fla.) 4-1 127 19 22 SCAD Atlanta 3-1 116 21 23 William Woods 1-0 85 RV 24 Mobile 6-0 82 NR 25 Marian (Ind.) 9-2 81 24        Dropped from rankings:  No. 20 Coastal Georgia, No. 23 Evangel, No. 25 Campbellsville      Others receiving votes:  Campbellsville 66, St. Thomas (Fla.) 32, Reinhardt 30, Ottawa 28, Coastal Georgia 26, Evangel 21, Georgetown (Ky.) 16, San Diego Christian 16, Warner 8, Milligan 6, Texas Wesleyan 3, Aquinas 3, Huntington 3 Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold