Thursday’s opener: Wildcats strike early
With FAMU pitching ace Caleb Granger sidelined due to injury, freshman Garrett Workman made the start on the mound but struggled early. B-CU’s offense pounced in the first inning, scoring three runs, and never relinquished control. The Wildcats added five more runs across the middle innings, capitalizing on shaky defense and timely hitting to seal the 8-3 win.
Friday’s pitching duel turns in B-CU’s favor
Game two saw a tighter contest, with B-CU pitcher Joel Core stifling FAMU’s lineup through six innings. The Wildcats broke a 1-1 stalemate in the sixth when Reinaldo Plascencia ignited the rally with a leadoff double. Sergio Rivera and Andrey Martinez followed with back-to-back RBI hits to push the lead to 3-1. FAMU threatened in the seventh, loading the bases after a walk and an error, but B-CU’s bullpen escaped the jam. The Wildcats tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth to clinch the series.
Standings shakeup
The losses mark a pivotal shift in the SWAC race. B-CU, now riding a eight-game conference win streak, controls its destiny with 13 SWAC games remaining. For FAMU, the path to a title narrows significantly, requiring near-perfect play down the stretch and reliance on other teams to slow the Wildcats.
“We have to regroup quickly,” said FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe. “This isn’t over, but we’ve got to execute better in clutch moments.”
The series concludes this afternoon, with FAMU aiming to salvage a win before returning home for next week with a mid-week game against Mercer and a weekend series agains Grambling. Meanwhile, B-CU eyes a sweep to further solidify its postseason positioning.