DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University baseball hits the road for a big nonconference series against SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) opponent, the Hornets of Alabama State University, in a three-game showdown beginning Friday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and ending with the final game at 2:00 p.m. (ET) Sunday, March 30 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Ala.
 
NCCU (9-14-1) is coming off a tough 12-5 loss on the road at East Carolina, while the Hornets have racked up a 21-8 record overall, 12-1 in the Eastern Division of the league, a full three games ahead of Jackson State.  The Eagles will be in for a huge challenge   
 
Many around the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) know ASU's head coach Mervyl Mendez who was previously at Bethune-Cookman where he won 11 conference titles, and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.  In two seasons, Mendez has transformed Alabama State into one of the top teams in the SWAC.
 
NCCU and Alabama State have never met on the diamond, in fact the only team from the SWAC that the maroon and gray have faced came in the 2011 season against Texas Southern as the Tigers took two-of-three from the Eagles.
 
Heading into the series, senior shortstop Zack Lee (Wilson, N.C.) leads the Eagle offense at-the-dish now hitting .367 on the year, while senior third baseman Tyson Simpson is right behind him at .365 on the season.  Lee tops the MEAC with 28 runs scored on the year, while senior Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) leads NCCU with 23 RBI.
 
The Hornets boast the top batting average in the SWAC (.302) and sit second in the conference in team ERA at 3.61.  ASU has scored 210 runs this season, 16 more than the next team in that category.  Alabama State is also statistically the top defensive team in the conference with a team fielding percentage of .975.
 
Junior shortstop Emmanuel Marrero is the top hitter for Alabama State as he is currently hitting .367 on the year  with seven doubles and a team high 35 RBI.  The Hornets have four student-athletes with 20 or more RBI on the season and have seven others that bat .300 or better.
 
Head coach Jim Koerner will change up his rotation this weekend as senior righty Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) will get the start on Friday.  McNabb (1-3, 4.64 ERA) will make his seventh start of the year as he has thrown 33.0 innings this season with 30 strikeouts and only eight walks. 
 
ASU will send T.J. Renda (2-2, 3.40 ERA) to the mound as the right handed junior also makes start No. 7 on the year.  Renda is in the top-five in the SWAC with 37 K's on the year in 39.2 innings pitched.
 
The maroon and gray will see freshman lefty Andrew Wilson (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) out for the second contest which is slated for a 7:00 p.m. (ET) first pitch.  Wilson (1-1, 6.48 ERA) has logged 25.0 innings on the year and has recorded 13 strikeouts in his rookie season.
 
In game two, the Hornets will have sophomore righty Joseph Camacho (4-1, 1.85 ERA) toe-the-rubber for his seven start of the year.  Camacho has worked 43.2 innings in six previous starts with two complete games under his belt.  He's also in the top-five in the SWAC with 37 K's on the year.
 
The series finale is set for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (ET) as Koerner will send sophomore righty Alex Dandridge (Arlington, Texas) out for his seventh start of the year.  Dandridge (0-4, 7.22 ERA) has 28.2 innings with 14 strikeouts under his belt in his firsts season at NCCU.
 
ASU's game three starter will probably redshirt freshman Tyler Howe (3-0, 2.93 ERA) as he will make his sixth start of the year for the Hornets.  In 30.2 innings, Howe has amassed 22 strikeouts and only nine walks.
 
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