Simmons Bank Gifts $2.5 Million to Fund UAPB Athletics Upgrades

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- A $2.5 million Simmons Bank gift for upgrades to football and baseball athletics facilities was announced Tuesday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The gift is the largest in UAPB history and will fund a new football stadium scoreboard and turf, along with completion of the baseball pavilion at the Torii Hunter Baseball and Softball Complex. The gift is pending UA Systems Board of Trustees approval at its May 23-24 meeting.

"On behalf of UAPB faculty, staff, students and alumni, I'd like to express our appreciation to Simmons Bank for its generous gift," said Alexander. "This donation will directly benefit our student-athletes by assisting them in reaching and exceeding their athletic and academic performance goals."

"Simmons is honored to partner with UAPB to help students excel right here in our hometown of Pine Bluff," said George A. Makris, Jr., chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corp. "There is nothing more rewarding for our bank than the opportunity to invest in our communities, especially in our young people."

UAPB Interim Director of Athletics Alyse Wells-Kilbert added, "We are grateful to Simmons Bank for its long-standing partnership with UAPB, and more specifically, this major gift that will allow us to complete much needed upgrades. These improvements will benefit our student-athletes and create a better fan experience during football and baseball games."

The event was followed by a tailgate-style reception.

About Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is an Arkansas state-chartered bank that began as a community bank in 1903. Through the decades, Simmons has developed a full suite of financial products and services designed to meet the needs of individual consumers and business customers alike. Simmons is a subsidiary bank for Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. For more information, visit http://www.simmonsbank.com/.

About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is an 1890 Land-Grant HBCU with a diverse student population, competitive degree offerings and stellar faculty. For more than 140 years, UAPB has worked to create an environment that inculcates learning, growth and productivity while affording a basic need to its students – a chance to advance. UAPB offers Certificate and Associates degree programs, more than thirty Undergraduate programs, Master's degree programs and a Doctorate program in Aquaculture/Fisheries. Students are active in more than 100 organizations, an internationally renowned Vesper Choir, Marching Band, Concert Bands, Wind Symphony, nationally recognized debate team, award-winning theater department and accomplished athletic program.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

Cleo Hill, Jr. Named Winston-Salem State University Men's Basketball Head Coach

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  – The Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) men's basketball program will look to its past to forge its future with the announcement of Cleo Hill Jr. as the head coach of the Rams men's basketball program.

"There were 104 applicants for the position, which speaks to the excitement around Winston-Salem State University basketball," said WSSU Director of Athletics Tonia Walker. "After a thorough search process, there was no doubt that we have found the best candidate to usher in a new era for men's basketball. Cleo Hill Jr. has been successful at nearly all levels of college basketball—as a player, assistant coach, and head coach."

Hill was introduced as WSSU's ninth coach during an introductory press conference on Monday, May 21.

"We are thrilled to have Cleo Hill Jr. on board," said WSSU Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson. "He is uniquely qualified to lead our men's basketball program. He understands WSSU's legacy as a basketball powerhouse, and possesses the leadership, skill, and experience to take our men's basketball program to the next level."

Hill had a successful run as the head coach at Shaw University from 2008-15, where he led the Bears to a 116-67 record in seven seasons. In 2011, he guided the Bears to their second Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.

Prior to leading the Shaw, Hill spent five years as the head coach at Cheyney University where he led the Wolves to a 55-67 record, including a 23-8 record in the 2003-04 season. The Wolves also saw a pair of appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

In addition to his experience as a head coach, Hill spent time as assistant coach at the University of Nebraska.

As a player at North Carolina Central University, Hill was selected to the South Atlantic Region All-Tournament team as a senior and is still among the school's all-time leading scorers.

A native of Orange, New Jersey, Hill is the son of Rams basketball legend, the late Cleo Hill Sr., a 2017 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Hill Sr., a 6-1 guard, scored 2,488 points in his career at WSSU, second only to Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. He was drafted eighth in the 1961 NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawk, the first player from an HBCU drafted in the NBA first round. Hill's jersey was officially retired in 2017 and is in a place of honor at WSSU's C.E. Gaines Center.

Cleo Hill Jr. will take over one of the most storied basketball programs in NCAA basketball. In its 70-year history, WSSU has won 11 CIAA titles and became the first historically Black college to win an NCAA basketball championship in 1967.

Tickets are on sale now for WSSU Athletics' All-Access Card, which includes admission to all home 2018-19 basketball, baseball and football games for as low as $100. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu.tickets.

For more information on Rams men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at 336-750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.

Cleo Hill Jr. – Coaching Highlights

• CIAA Coach of the Year, 2012
• BOXTOROW Coach of the Year, 2011 and 2012
• National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association (NSSA) NCAA Division II Clarence "Big House" Gaines Coach of the Year, 2011
• Pennsylvania Sports Athletic Conference (PSAC) Coach of the Year, 2008
• Four NCAA Division II playoff berths (Cheyney, Shaw)
• CIAA championship (Shaw), 2011

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY RAMS SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina A&T Wins 4th MEAC Baseball Title

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- In the summer of 2014, the North Carolina A&T baseball program hired an assistant coach named Ben Hall. Two months later he was N.C. A&T’s interim head coach. His team included a few freshmen he recently met named Myles Sowell, Adan Ordonez, Milton Rivera, A.J. Hunt and K.J. McAlister.

Hall and those group of players experienced a 10-win season in 2015 and did not qualify for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Baseball Tournament. They won 13 games in 2016 and did not qualify for the tournament. In 2017, they reached the tournament and were one win shy of making the championship game.

On Sunday, May 20, 2018, the senior group of Sowell, Ordonez, Rivera, Hunt and McAlister along with Hall and the rest of the Aggies baseball program won the 2018 MEAC championship with a 12-9 win over their longtime nemesis in the tournament, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

Four years removed from that 10-win season, the 2018 Aggies broke the school record for wins (32-23) and won the program’s fourth MEAC title and the first since 2005. Sophomore Zach McLean was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and McLean, junior Dawnoven Smith, Rivera, and Sowell were named to the all-tournament team.

“First off, those young men are quality people,” said Hall who won the title in his hometown of Daytona Beach, Fla., after leading the Aggies to a school-record 16 conference wins.

“They trusted we would put good players around them. Leadership is important. Senior leadership is imperative,” Hall continued. “Those guys getting tournament experience last year for the first was important because we learned from it and grew from it. So, what happened is we returned a team full of hungry kids who wanted to do nothing but win. They had one purpose and that’s not to leave Daytona Beach without a championship.”

N.C. A&T came into Sunday’s game still in the winner’s bracket, therefore, the Aggies needed to only win once to claim the title while the Wildcats (24-34) had to win twice to claim the title. Hall said he did not want his team thinking about playing a second game on Sunday.

That feat became difficult when the Wildcats took a 5-0 lead in the third and an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. The Aggies fifth saw the Wildcats replace right-hand starter Tyler Norris, who was pitching on short rest after throwing three innings against Norfolk State on Wednesday, with RHP Brandon Wilkes. Wilkes opened by hitting junior Jarrett Norman with 1-1 pitch. McLean then blasted a two-run homer to left to cut the Wildcats lead to 8-6. It was McLean’s third homer of the tournament with all three going to left. He also finished with a whopping 11 RBI in three games.

“I think Zach’s home run against their bullpen guy let our guys know we were going to be okay,” said Hall. “Their starter competed his tail off. He was tough on our guys. But when Zach destroyed that fastball, as long as we were able to put some zeroes up (on the scoreboard), we really had no doubt in the dugout we were going to win.”

N.C. A&T added another run in the fifth on an RBI single from Forest Kimbrell to make it an 8-7 game. The Aggies manufactured a run in the seventh to tie the game at 8, as sophomore Ryne Stanley walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sowell and reached third on a groundout by Rivera. Stanley then came home on a wild pitch by RHP Tyler Krull.

A four-run eighth gave the Aggies the lead for good. With runners on first and second, McLean’s RBI double to left gave the Aggies their first lead of the game. Another wild pitch, this time from B-CU LHP Joseph Calamita, allowed another Aggies run to score as Norman crossed the plate for a 10-8 Aggies lead. McLean later scored on a passed ball. The last run of the inning was scored from a second rally the Aggies mounted after the bases were cleared.

Sowell reached on a fielder’s choice and Rivera and senior Greg White were hit by pitches. B-CU reliever David Matta (RHP) forced in a run when he walked Kimbrell on six pitches for a 12-8 Aggies advantage. By this time, the game was in the hands of the Aggies bullpen who has been excellent all season. Junior reliever Leon Hunter (RHP) and senior reliever Josh Bottenfield (RHP) did not disappoint.

“We knew we had our pitching set up the way we wanted,” said Hall. “We wanted to be in a position where we could turn the game over to Bott and let him finish it. I thought Leon Hunter was huge for us and Bott was a tough matchup for them. Those guys went out and executed the game plan.”

Hunter pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and Bottenfield (6-3), the nation’s leader in appearances with 38, got the win by pitching 2.1 innings and striking out two.

N.C. A&T will now ready itself for the NCAA Regionals scheduled for June 1-4. The selection show is 12 p.m., Monday, May 28 on ESPNU.

The last time the Aggies were in the NCAA Regionals they opened against Clemson. Clemson’s second baseman that day was named Ben Hall. Yes, that same young assistant coach turned interim head coach from 2014.

BOX SCORE

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Tigers overwhelm Grambling State 18-3 for SWAC Tournament championship

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana  – The Tigers of Texas Southern University are headed back to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Grambling State 18-3 for the team's second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament championship Sunday.

At Wesley Barrow Stadium, a nine-run third inning gave Texas Southern a comfortable advantage as the Tigers from the Lone Star State cruised to its third conference championship in four seasons.

Christian Sanchez went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, while O.J. Oloruntimilehin drove in four runs as part of a 2-for-6 day for Texas Southern (27-26). Aron Solis struck out six batters over five innings to pick up his second victory of the tournament, improving his overall season record to 10-3.

In collecting four RBIs for the second consecutive game, Oloruntimilehin was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Sanchez, Kamren Dukes, and Gaudencio Lucca also represented TSU on the All-Tournament team.

Dukes went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored Sunday, as he reached base safely for the 45th consecutive game. Lucca went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the game.

BOX SCORE

Sanchez' five-RBI game included a two-run home run in the eighth inning, which was his SWAC-leading 17th of the season.

Junior college transfer Keanu Van Kuren went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and five runs scored. He was making only his second start of the tournament (and his first since the opener), and was not in the original starting lineup card sent to the press box an hour before the tournament.

It was Van Kuren's outfield assist on the third out of the second inning may have changed the direction of game. With two runners in scoring position, Ace Felder knocked a single to right field that scored Isaiah Torres from third to give Grambling a 2-1 lead. A two-run lead was thwarted when Van Kuren's throw to the plate was on target, with catcher Ricky Urbano making a stretching tag to retire Richard Ortiz.

The win sends Texas Southern to the NCAA Tournament. The location and opponents will be announced next week.

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

A&T Advances to MEAC Baseball Title Game

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Senior Myles Sowell’s birthday was Friday, May 18. But he partied late into that night and into Saturday morning to lead North Carolina A&T baseball to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Tournament game with a 15-7 win over Coppin State in the semifinals at Sliwa Stadium Saturday morning.

Another bad day of weather forced the Aggies game against the Eagles to a 9:05 p.m., start after their original 2:30 p.m., start was delayed after two pitchers were thrown. The Aggies (31-23) did not claim victory until 12:50 a.m., when junior right-hand reliever Roberto Negron struck out Jonathan Sabino.

N.C. A&T will now play in the title game for the first time since 2010. Their win over Coppin State gives them an enormous advantage in the double-elimination tournament. Two elimination games must be played on Saturday before the Aggies will even know who their opponent is. Once their opponent is determined between either Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman or Coppin State, the Aggies will only have to win once to claim their first title in 13 years while their opponent must win twice because N.C. A&T has yet to lose in the 2018 tournament.

“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” said N.C. A&T coach Ben Hall, who saw his team tie the school record for wins. “We’re just going to play the next game in front us and see what happens. We’ve got a bunch of guys on this team who just love to play baseball. “

The Aggies will play either B-CU, FAMU or Coppin on Sunday. A time has not been determined. 

"The delays, the bad weather, the changing game times have more of an effect on us as coaches than they do the players. These guys are just excited that we’re still playing,” Hall continued.

They are playing like a motivated team. The Aggies have scored double-figure runs in four straight games and five of their last six. In their last nine games, they have a 7-2 record and they have outscored their two opponents in the tournament by a combined score of 27-10.

“It’s that time of the year,” said Hall. “This is why you play 50, 60 some odd games in baseball because it takes time to figure out what works and what doesn’t work. I think the big thing for us lately is the guys at the bottom of our order are starting to hit the ball, so they are flipping the lineup. The guys at the top of our order are coming to the plate with runners on base.”

Sowell, the birthday boy and the Aggies No. 8 hitter, went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Three of Sowell’s runs were scored on wild pitches. Senior leadoff man Greg White was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two home runs. Redshirt junior A.J. Hunt also had two hits and sophomores Zach McLean and Ryne Stanley also had homers.  

But it was the bottom of the order that sparked the Aggies in the pivotal fifth inning. N.C. A&T went into the fifth leading 3-2 before Sowell singled which was followed by a single from No. 9 hitter Milton Rivera. Senior Greg White moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt that led to an RBI single by senior Forest Kimbrell. Rivera was thrown out at the plate for the second out in the inning but that did not slow down the Aggies offense.

Hunt brought Kimbrell home on an infield single before an RBI double from junior Dawnoven Smith gave the Aggies a 6-2 lead. Smith scored on a throwing error that allowed junior Jarrett Norman to reach. McLean powered out a homer to left to add two more runs to the Aggies’ totals. Stanley followed with a solo shot to left to give the Aggies a 10-2 advantage. The Aggies seven-run fifth all but put the game out of reach for the Eagles (21-22-1).

First-team All-MEAC sophomore pitcher Michael Johnson (7-1) got the win while Aaron Rea (6-5) took the loss.

“We’re really playing a really aggressive brand of baseball right now,” said Hall. “We’re aggressive on the basepaths and at the plate and I think you saw tonight that Michael was aggressive on the mound. Hopefully, we can continue to play that way.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY AGGIES SPORTS INFORMATION

Lincoln Qualifies 23 Entries for the NCAA Championships

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri --Sixteen members of Lincoln's women's and men's track & field teams combined to qualify 23 entries to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, which will be held in Charlotte, N.C. from May 24-26.

The Lincoln women, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the country according to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Division II rankings, will have 12 entries in the national championship meet. Diana Cauldwell and Christine Moss will each compete in four events, including the 4x100m relay, where they will be joined by Rene Medley and Shaian Vandenburg.

Cauldwell will additionally compete in the 100m, the long jump and the triple jump, with Rusheda Blake also vying in the latter event. Moss, meanwhile, will compete in the 200m, 400m and the 4x400m relay. Medley will also race in the 100m and the 200m, while Renea Ambersley will join Moss in the 400m and the 4x400m relay.

Rounding out LU's 4x400m relay squad are Segale Brown and Shanice Clarke, with Clarke also set to compete in the 400m hurdles.

The Lincoln men, ranked No. 10 in the USTFCCCA Division II national ratings, will have 11 entries to the championship meet, including four in the 100m: Roberto Smith, Stephen Rose, Jakiel David and Javan Gray. Gray leads LU with three entries, as he will also compete in the 200m and the 4x100m relay.

Kizan David will represent the Blue Tigers in both the long jump and the triple jump, and Coy Spencer and Alva Henry were each invited to compete in the 400m hurdles. Smith, meanwhile, will join Gray in the 200m while Rose, Jakiel David and Tyrese Hallsround out Lincoln's 4x100m relay team.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BLUE TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Langston University Football Finalizes 2018 Schedule

LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Langston University head football coach Quinton Morgan has announced the upcoming 2018 football schedule which will feature five home games at W.E. Anderson Stadium and five road games in their first season as members of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The season kicks off with Friends and Family Weekend as Langston hosts SAC member Ottawa University on Sept 8 at 2 pm. This will be the first time Langston and Ottawa University will meet on the gridiron.

The month of September includes a matchup with NCAA DI Southern (La.) University on Sept. 15 in Baton Rouge, La. The following two weeks, the Lions host Southwestern Assemblies of God on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. and Wayland Baptist on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.

Langston begins the month of October on the road at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth, Texas on Oct. 6 and Phoenix, Ariz. versus Arizona Christian on Oct. 13. October concludes with the Lions hosting Lyon College for homecoming on Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. and traveling to Texas College in Tyler, Texas on Oct. 27.

The regular season wraps up with the Lions playing at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. on Nov. 3 and hosting Panhandle State on Nov. 10 in the second annual Battle for the Bell.

Langston finished the 2017 season at 10-1 overall and 8-0 in their final year in the Central States Football League.

To view the full schedule, dates and times, click here.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS SPORTS INFORMATION

Nuggets' win streak ends in NAIA national semifinals

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana, one of the hottest teams in women's college tennis during the past 12 weeks, lost 5-1 Friday to two-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett in the semifinals of the NATA National Championships.
     
It was the Gold Nuggets' first defeat after a school-record 16-dual-match win streak. They had not lost since Feb. 21.
     
XULA (19-8), ranked and seeded third, scored its only point when Charlene Goreau and Angela Charles-Alfred defeated Henar Munoz and Margarida Abreu 9-8 (7-3) on the second doubles court. The victory was Goreau and Charles-Alfred's seventh in a row and third of the tournament.
     
Farah Baklouti and Manon Bonada were tied at 6 on the third doubles court before falling 8-6 to Maria Prados Cid and Gabrielle Robinson. On court one Mariia Borodii and Yi Chen Pao suffered their largest loss of the season, 8-2, to Emerald Able and Madeline Bosnjak.
     
Second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett (17-2) made it 3-1 when Abreu defeated Goreau 6-2, 6-0 on the second court — that ended Goreau's 16-match singles win streak — then closed it out when Chiara Rebecchi beat Pao 6-3, 6-0 and No. 6 and Prados Cid beat Bonada 6-1, 6-1 in the clincher on No. 4.
     
In the three unfinished singles matches, XULA's only leader was Baklouti — 6-4, 2-1 on the fifth court against Gabrielle Robinson. Borodii, the ITA's second-ranked NAIA singles player, trailed 6-4, 2-1 against fourth-ranked Emerald Able, an opponent Borodii defeated 6-2, 6-2 at Georgia Gwinnett on Feb. 16. All three of Borodii's singles matches at nationals were unfinished, and the freshman trailed in all three. She entered the tournament 15-0 in singles.
     
Georgia Gwinnett, in the championship round for the fifth consecutive yearm will play top-seeded Keiser for the title at 9 a.m. Saturday. Keiser (23-2) won 5-4 at Georgia Gwinnett on March 24.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Bethune-Cookman Softball Falls 3-0 To USF in NCAA Regionals

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman's 2018 season came to end with a 3-0 loss to South Florida in an NCAA Gainesville Regional elimination game Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium.

Cassidy Boyle went 3-3, homered and drove in two runs, while JoJo McGill and Hannah Parker combined on the shutout as the Bulls (39-22) extended their season. They're playing Ohio State late Saturday for the right to face Florida in the championship Sunday.

Bethune-Cookman, ending a six-year post-season absence after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship, concludes its season 31-26.

The Wildcats threatened to score in the second when Kailey Richard hit a two-out single up the middle and was followed by Bryanna Campos singling and Kayla Traylor drawing a walk to load the bases. But the Wildcats left all three stranded to end the inning.

USF scored two in the third on a Lindsey Devitt sacrifice fly and a single by Boyle, who registered her solo shot in the fifth.

Brianna Sanders would be the lone Wildcat baserunner until the sixth when Ryan Jackson singled and Iesha Waters drew a walk.

Richard registered her second hit with a leadoff single in the seventh, advancing to second on an error. Pinch runner Sasha Killings got to third, but was stranded.

Freshman Alexis Bermudez (13-11) took the loss. Mariah Estrada, a sophomore, worked two innings of two-hit relief while Victoria Guzman worked the sixth.

In the field, sophomore shortstop Jacki Smith registered a double play as part of her four assists and three putouts while Traylor, a freshman, posted three assists and two putouts.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS SPORTS INFORMATION

B-CU Wildcats Feast on FAMU in MEAC Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman's onslaught of action to climb out of the elimination bracket continued Saturday morning at Silwa Stadium on the campus of Embry-Riddle University. The Wildcats (23-33) ended the season of rival Florida A&M (25-30) with a 9-3 victory.

A pitcher's duel turned into a one-sided slugfest in the fifth as BCU pushed across five runs off four hits. BCU chased out Rattler starter Dallas Oliver (3-7) after Adonis Lao singled, then Nate Sterijevski and Danny Rodriguez walked. Reliever Jamie Grant gave up a sacrifice fly to Jordan Stacy that pushed the Wildcat lead to 3-1, and Michael Deeb singled home Sterijevksi to make it a crooked frame.

Rodriguez boldly took third on a wild pitch, and Jameel Edney delivered a sac fly to centerfield that made the score 5-1.

The hit parade continued with RBI singles by Zach Spivey and Jordan Stacy and BCU left the inning with five runs off four hits through all nine batters.

The Wildcats added insurance in the seventh off pitcher Chandellor Benton. With two outs, Lao snuck a single under the outstretched body of FAMU first baseman Brian Davis. Spivey scored from third after previous stealing the bag before Mother Nature continued her unwelcome stay.

A lightning delay led to a pause of nearly 7:30 in the game with BCU leading 8-1 in the top of the seventh.

BCU answered the Rattler first inning Davis RBI double with a table-setting two-bagger by Edney. He scored two batters later as Corbin won a foot race to first on an infield single to Davis.

The Wildcats scratched across another run in the fourth after another leadoff double by Edney. Spivey laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Oliver fielded with intent to throw out Edney at third. However, his toss sailed wide into left field and BCU took its first lead when Edney touched home, 2-1.

Starter Anthony Maldonado pitched 4.1 innings with only one earned run off three hits to advance to 7-2. He walked two and picked up six strikeouts, including one to end the first though fourth innings. The MEAC Pitcher of the Year has now struck out at least five batters in 10 of his 11 starts.

David Mata through 1.2 innings with three hits and a strikeout before the weather delay. Isaak Guiterrez gained his first save of the season with two runs and two strikeouts over three innings.

The Wildcats advance to play Coppin State in the elimination bracket, with the winner taking on North Carolina A&T State in the Championship round. Visit www.MEACsports.com for the most up-to-date schedule and bracket.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern continues to strengthen Cenla ties

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana -- Over the past few seasons, Southern coach Dawson Odums has made Central Louisiana a priority in recruiting and reaching out to the alumni from the area.

Odums was once again in Alexandria Thursday for the annual "Meet the Jaguars" fundraiser that was presented by the Rapides Chapter of the Southern University Alumni Federation.

"The biggest thing is being able to be present year in and year out," Odums said. "Being able to come out for the sixth year as the head coach is just great. Our motto is 'Knock on every high school door in the state of Louisiana,' and we've been able to do that. We've been fortunate to get some kids out of this area."

The Jaguars have dipped deep in the Central Louisiana pipeline and have unearthed a few gems over the last few years.

Last season, Peabody's Jamar Washington turned heads as he went from preferred walk-on to making the most of his moment as a true freshman.

CONTINUE READING

Howard Named AAMU Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama --- Dylan Howard has been elevated to interim head coach of the Alabama A&M men's basketball program for the 2018-19 season, Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks announced Thursday.
 
"I would like to thank President Dr. Hugine Jr. and Director of Athletics, Mr. Bryan Hicks, for naming me interim head men's basketball coach at Alabama A&M," said Howard. "This is a great opportunity to continue building something special at a great academic institution. I am truly humbled and excited to lead this program for the 2018-19 season."

Howard spent the last year as the associate head coach on the men's basketball staff. He has been integral in the recruitment for the Bulldogs and the development of the big man for the program.

Prior to AAMU, Howard spent five seasons as the associate head men's basketball coach at Morehead State. The team finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-6 conference mark. In Coach Howard's five seasons at Morehead State, the Eagles won 89 games.

He helped lead the Eagles to a 23-14 overall record and 11-5 Ohio Valley Conference mark in 2015-16, along with a second-place finish in the 2016 College Basketball Invitational.

"Coach Howard has done an excellent job since his arrival here at A&M," Hicks said. "His work ethic and leadership will provide us with continuity for our program going forward."

Howard was the top assistant at Mississippi Valley State from 2008-11. He assisted in putting together two top-50 recruiting classes in three seasons at MVSU. Coach Howard recruited five All-SWAC players, including 2012 MVP Paul Crosby and SWAC Tournament MVP Cor-J Cox.

Prior to MVSU, Howard had a seven-year run (2001-08) as the head coach at Division III Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas.  He was named American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 after guiding the Cowboys to their first-ever league tournament appearance.  In 2007, HSU reached the ASC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history.

Howard earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UAB in 1992 and master's degree in sports recreation and management from Hardin-Simmons in 2005.

Howard is married to wife Nicole, and they have one daughter, Danielle. 

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS SPORTS INFORMATION

2018 SWAC Football Media Day -- July 13th in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference office announced on Friday that it will hold its annual SWAC Football Media Day on Friday, July 13 as it will return to the refurbished Birmingham Marriott in Birmingham, Ala.

The event will be streamed live on the SWAC Digital Network found on SWAC.org beginning at 10 a.m. CT as longtime SWAC broadcaster Santoria Black will serve as the moderator and lead host in interviewing each of the 10 head football coaches. Gaati Werema, who notably has worked in prior seasons as SDN’s basketball analyst, will be conducting interviews with each school’s student-athlete representatives. Each member institution will have two student-athletes that will accompany their respective head coach.

The annual kickoff to the SWAC football season - this year's media gathering will have noticeable changes as it will feature five new head coaches at the helm with several interactive online video and audio format opportunities available to the media.

Among the fresh faces include Alabama A&M’s Connell Maynor, Alabama State’s Donald Hill-Eley (was named new coach following last year’s SWAC media day), Mississippi Valley State’s Vincent Dancy, Prairie View A&M’s Eric Dooley and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Cedric Thomas.

Veteran head coaches to the event include Alcorn State’s Fred McNair of the defending SWAC East Division Champions, Grambling State’s Broderick Fobbs of the SWAC’s defending champions, Jackson State’s Tony Hughes, Southern’s Dawson Odums and Texas Southern’s Michael Haywood.

Prior to the event, the league will announce the 2018 All-SWAC preseason teams as well as the predicted order of finish, voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The tentative schedule for live interviews with head coaches on the SWAC Digital Network will be Haywood-TXSO (10:35), Dancy-MVSU (10:55), Odums-SUBR (11:10), Dooley-PVAM (11:25), Fobbs-GRAM (11:45), Hughes-JKST (11:55), Thomas-UAPB (12:05), Maynor-AAMU (12:20), McNair-ALCN (12:35), Hill-Eley-ALST (1:10).

SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Iowa State Volleyball Adds Florida A&M Transfer

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State volleyball has added Candelaria Herrera to its roster for the 2018 season head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch announced Thursday. Herrera comes to Iowa State after spending her freshman season with Florida A&M. She will be immediately eligible in the fall, and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Herrera will enroll at Iowa State for the June summer school session.

"I am really excited about adding Candelaria to an already talented group," Johnson-Lynch said. "She has a tremendous amount of experience playing a couple of different positions, and it will be fun to experiment and see how she can most help our team."

Herrera, from San Juan, Argentina, was one of FAMU's top players in her lone season with the Rattlers, as she was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year and to the All-MEAC First Team. A four-time MEAC Rookie of the Week in 2017, Herrera led Florida A&M with her .354 hitting percentage out of the middle, averaging 2.69 kills per set. Herrera was also the top blocks for the Rattlers, averaging 0.89 blocks per set.

"Beyond her experience, she is an incredibly hard-working and determined young woman," Johnson-Lynch said. "I believe she will be a great addition for our program on and off the court."

Prior to her collegiate career, Herrera had a busy career in the Argentina Junior National Team ranks, having been a member of the 2015 U18 World Championships, 2015 U20 Pan-American Cup, 2014 Youth's Girls South America Championship and the 2013 Youth's World Championship teams.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Kickoff Time Announced for Season-Opener at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – The 2018 season-opener between the Alcorn State University football program and Georgia Tech will be played at 12:30 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Bobby Daud Stadium.

Additionally, the contest will be televised on the ACC Regional Sports Network.

The Braves are looking to win their season-opener for the third year in a row. Last year, they beat Miles College 50-21 at home. In 2016, they were leading Bethune-Cookman 13-7 in the second quarter of the SWAC/MEAC challenge when the game was canceled due to lightning; Alcorn went on to beat Alabama State the following week 21-18 for its first official game of the season.

It will be just the second-ever meeting between the Braves and the Yellow Jacks, and the second in the last four years. Georgia Tech took the first decision 69-6 in 2015.

Following the Georgia Tech game, the Braves will return to Lorman, Mississippi for back-to-back home games against Louisiana College and Texas Southern on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15, respectively, at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. Alcorn is holding a pop-up sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vicksburg Expansion Center. Click here to read more.

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Penn Hills QB Hollis Mathis commits to Howard University Bison

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- Penn Hills junior Hollis Mathis, one of the WPIAL’s leading passers, announced Friday his commitment to Howard.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback passed for 2,435 yards and 27 touchdowns last fall when Penn Hills reached the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs. Mathis received his first Division 1 offer from Washington D.C. university last May.



An FCS program, Howard competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Bison found success with another Pittsburgh quarterback recruit a few years ago. Perry Academy’s Greg McGhee was the MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Howard’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach is Brennan Marion, a Greensburg Salem graduate who recruits Pennsylvania.

CONTINUE READING 

Grizzlies eliminate Gold Rush for 3rd straight year

MOBILE, Alabama — The Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis team's bid for a third consecutive berth in an NAIA National Championship final ended late Friday when the Gold Rush fell 5-0 to four-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett.
     
The Grizzlies (26-0) swept the doubles, then won two singles matches to advance to a 1:30 p.m. Saturday final against second-seeded Keiser, a 5-0 winner against Reinhardt in the other semifinal.
     
Kevin Konfederak and Gilad Berman gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead on the first doubles court when they defeated Antoine Richard and Shaikh Abdullah 8-5. Ayed Zatar and Valentino Caratini followed with am 8-3 victory against Samir Chikhaoui and Pierre Andrieuon the third court, then the Grizzlies completed the doubles sweep when Rafael Coutinho and Federico Herrera Duran won the first three games en route to an 8-5 victory against Catalin Fifea and Chris Anders.
     
In singles, Konfederak defeated Fifea 6-3, 6-4, then Coutinho clinched with a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Chikhaoui. Georgia Gwinnett led in the four halted matches.
     
It was the second competition of the day for fourth-seeded XULA (13-12), which beat William Carey 5-3 during the morning in the quarterfinals.
     
The Grizzlies won their 81st consecutive dual match and improved to 19-0 in five seasons at nationals. The Grizzlies have won national titles every year since their first season of postseason eligibility in 2014.
     
XULA lost 5-2 to Georgia Gwinnett in the 2016 final and 5-0 to the Grizzlies in the 2017 final. The Gold Rush are 0-8 all-time against Georgia Gwinnett and have yet to win a singles match.
     
NOTES:  It was the first time in three months that the Gold Rush were shut out in a dual match . . . The tournament endured weather delays for the third consecutive day; the XULA men's semifinal start time was pushed back to 9 p.m. . . . It was the final college competition for Fifea, the only senior on the Gold Rush and the ITA/NAIA Region IV Most Improved Senior this season . . . The Gold Rush finished above .500 for the eighth consecutive season . . . XULA has not won an NAIA national team title in any sport.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Nuggets topple LSUA to advance to national semifinals

MOBILE, Ala.bama — Charlene Goreau and Farah Baklouti won in doubles and singles Thursday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 5-0 women's tennis victory against LSU-Alexandria in the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championships.
     
The Gold Nuggets (19-7), ranked and seeded third, advanced to the semifinals for the fourth time in six years and the first time since 2015. They'll play No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett, the two-time defending national champion.
     
Goreau and Angela Charles-Alfred defeated Ariadna Cabezas and Maria Montenegro 8-0 in doubles, and Goreau clinched with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Miljana Milojevic. The singles victory was Goreau's 15th in a row.
     
Baklouti and Manon Bonada defeated Milojevic and Patricia Perez 8-1, and Baklouti beat Cabezas 6-1, 6-1 for her 11th victory in her last 12 singles decisions.
     
Mariia Borodii and Yi Chen Pao scored XULA's other point with an 8-1 victory against Alba Perny and Laia Charles. It was the second straight day that Borodii and Pao defeated a top-10 doubles team, and it was their 12th victory in their last 13 matches.
     
XULA extended its school-record win streak to 16.
    
LSUA (12-7), ranked 12th and seeded 11th, lost to XULA for the third time in as many duals this season. The Generals were eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Rush reach NAIA quarterfinals for 7th straight year

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana's Pierre Andrieu defeated Alvaro Conesa 6-4, 6-3 Thursday to clinch a 5-1 men's tennis victory against Middle Georgia in the round of 16 of the NAIA National Championships.
     
The Gold Rush (12-11), ranked and seeded fourth, advanced to the quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive year. That's the longest active streak of quarterfinal appearances in NAIA men's tennis. XULA was the national runner-up in 2016 and 2017.
     
The Rush's quarterfinal matchup Thursday evening against William Carey was rained out and rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday. Semifinals will begin at 4:30 p.m.
     
XULA led 2-1 after the doubles. Antoine Richard made it 3-1 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory against Octavio Tamola, then Gabriel Niculescu defeated Santino Romeo 6-2, 7-5. XULA led in the three unfinished singles matches, including Catalin Fifea, up 4-3 in the third set against Nishanth Rebello after dropping the opening set.
     
Andrieu, a sophomore, was the only Gold Rush player to win twice. He and Samir Chikhaoui defeated Romeo and Perret 8-4 to tie the dual at one. Fifea and Chris Anders put the Gold Rush ahead to stay with a 9-7 victory against Tamola and Conesa.
     
Middle Georgia (12-6), ranked and seeded 13th and the Southern States Athletic Conference runner-up, got its only victory when Rebello and Alejandro Prada rallied from a 4-3 deficit for an 8-6 victory against Richard and Shaikh Abdullah.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Nuggets, despite rain delay, defeat Bees at nationals

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis endured a weather delay of more than six hours Wednesday before defeating SCAD Savannah 6-1 in the round of 16 at the NAIA National Championships.
     
The delay, caused by a lengthy afternoon thunderstorm, postponed all the men's matches. XULA's Gold Rush will play Middle Georgia at 8 a.m. Thursday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center. Admission is free all week.
     
The Gold Nuggets (18-7) will play LSU-Alexandria in the quarterfinals at noon Thursday. LSUA defeated William Carey 5-3.
     
XULA won 2-of-3 doubles matches during the morning before the delay, then got singles victories during the evening from Manon Bonada, Charlene Goreau, Farah Baklouti and Yi Chen Pao. Baklouti clinched with her 6-1, 6-2 victory against Karina Rovira.
     
"Manon and Farah both stepped up today. They played one spot up in the lineup and really elevated their games," XULA coach Alan Green said. "We will need for them to continue to provide that for the team in order for us to be successful.
     
XULA, ranked and seeded third, improved its school-record win streak to 15. The Gold Nuggets denied SCAD Savannah, ranked ninth and seeded 14th, a sixth straight berth in the quarterfinals. XULA is 11-1 this season against top-20 opponents.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold