Baseball Opens Up At Home Friday, Game Time Moved To 3 p.m.

The Texas Southern baseball team begins conference play this weekend as they take on the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions for a three-game series in their home opener at MacGregor Park. The series, which begins on Friday, Feb. 28, will now begin at 3 p.m. on Friday while Saturday’s and Sunday’s start times will remain the same for now.

This marks the first time TSU will play a game in the state of Texas as they look to capture a SWAC West crown in addition to a tournament championship.

In last year’s head-to-head record, the Tigers beat out the Golden Lions as they claimed the series by a 4-2 margin. The Tigers finished ahead of Pine Bluff in the SWAC West in third place with a 13-11 record.

TSU starts SWAC play on a high note after they defeated No. 4 Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. by a 8-4 score on Tuesday night. Through the arms of Camden Guarnere, Robert Loza and Jesse Garcia, they silenced one of last year’s CWS participants to seal their team’s first win of the season. 

On the batter’s side, the Tigers will be led by Roderick Coffee, a .370 average player who has 10 hits, seven runs, four home runs, nine RBIs, 22 total bases and a 1.253 OPS to his name. He is supported by Victor Bueno, as his .323 average, 10 hits, four runs, one home run, six RBIs, 15 total bases and .884 OPS provide another reliable bat to the burgeoning offense. Another potent player that can lend his hand to the Tigers’ cause is Nic Garza. He currently has an 8-game reached base streak heading into the Pine Bluff series.

The Golden Lions enter this weekend’s series with a 3-6 overall record. UAPB is coming off a walk-off loss at Wichita State on Tuesday. Prior to Tuesday’s game, UAPB dropped three of four at the annual MLB Classic before losing to Baylor. The Golden Lions took 2-of-3 from Lane College last weekend.

Humberto Maldonado leads UAPB with a .400 average (14-of-35) and 8 RBI. Korey Wasson tops the pitchers with 10 strikeouts while Jordan O’Guinn has a 1.59 ERA with nine strikeouts.