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DURHAM, N.C.  – The final weekend series of the conference slate for North Carolina Central University could also be the biggest in the young program's history as the first place Rattlers of Florida A&M make the trek to the Bull City for the three-game set, which begins on Saturday, April 26 with doubleheader action at 1:00 p.m. from the Durham Athletic Park.
 
The series will conclude on Sunday, April 27 with the "Senior Day" ceremony taking place prior to the 1:00 p.m. first pitch as seven seniors (Alex Moore III, Carter Williamson, Zack Lee, Jacob Russell, Terry McNabb, Tyson Simpson, and Morris Jones) will be honored for giving their heart and souls to the program during their respective careers.
 
NCCU (15-25-1, 10-9 MEAC) is currently in third place in the MEAC's Southern Division behind Florida A&M (18-21, 11-7 MEAC) who are coming off a major midweek upset over No. 6/12 Florida (4-3) on Wednesday evening in Gainesville, Fla.  In the win, junior Ryan Kennedy and Jeremy Barlow both ripped two-run homers in the upset victory.
 
The Eagles and Rattlers both won a game in the rain-shortened series in Tallahassee, Fla. on March 22.  Game three of the weekend set was called in the top of the second inning with the maroon and gray on top 6-0 and the bases loaded.  That game will more than likely be made up in the coming weeks.
 
FAMU is led by first year head coach Jamey Shouppe as the longtime Florida State assistant coach has energized the program, especially on the mound as the Rattlers have the third-best team ERA in the MEAC at 4.90.  At-the-plate, Florida A&M is second in the MEAC batting .274 as a team.
 
Simpson is now 10th in the MEAC hitting .378 at-the-plate this season, while Williamson is in a three-way tie for first in the league with 34 RBI on the year.  Lee still sits in first in the conference in runs scored with 39.
 
Florida A&M is topped by one of the best players in the conference as senior first baseman Bennie Robinson is fourth in the league batting at .411, No. 1 with 65 hits, fourth in runs scored with 34, and alone in first with 14 doubles on the year.
 
On-the-hill third year head coach Jim Koerner will go with junior righty Kyle Shields (Bailey, N.C.).  Rain cut Shields' (3-3, 3.38 ERA) outing short last Friday as he has now thrown 37.1 innings this season with 22 K's.  FAMU will start freshman righty Chase Jarrell (4-2, 3.47 ERA) in game one as the rookie has thrown 59.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and only 11 walks.
 
Game two is set for seven innings due to MEAC rules as senior Terry McNabb (Davidson, Sask.) will make start No. 11 for the maroon and gray.  McNabb (2-6, 4.13 ERA) has logged 61.0 innings on the year with 56 strikeouts (second in the MEAC) and just 13 walks.
 
FAMU's redshirt senior David Duncan (2-4, 4.72 ERA) will oppose the Eagles on-the-rubber as he makes his 10th start on the year.  Duncan has worked 53.1 innings with 40 strikeouts on the season, while issuing 17 walks.
 
The series finale will see arguably NCCU's hottest pitcher, Alex Dandridge (Arlington, Texas), toe-the rubber on "Senior Day".  Dandridge (1-3, 5.09 ERA), the sophomore righty is putting up staggering numbers in his last three conference starts with a 0.87 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched with two earned runs allowed with 19 K's and seven walks.  
 
Sophomore lefty Kendal Weeks (2-1, 4.18 ERA) earned his first save of the year in the win over No. 6/12 Florida on Wednesday night and will start his third game of the year in Sunday's final game.  Weeks has logged 23.2 innings for the Rattlers with 11 strikeouts and five walks.

The NCCU Sports Network will have full coverage of the weekend series as play-by-play voice Chris Hooks will call the action live from the Durham Athletic Park.  Fans are encouraged to follow @NCCUAthletics and @NCCUBaseball on twitter for the latest updates on the big weekend series.
 
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