NORFOLK, Va. - Simply put, there will be a defining moment in the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats' 2013 season, Sunday at Marty L. Miller Field, as B-CU faces the Savannah State Tigers in a winner-take-all set with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship on the line. Games begin at 11 a.m.
These teams are quite familiar with each other, as MEAC Southern Divisional Co-Champions who will meet Sunday for the seventh, and hopefully eighth, times on the campaign.
During the regular season, these teams tied their series at 3-3 and both are facing their toughest matchup of the tournament in a fitting Championship setting. After the loss to Coppin State on the opening day of the tournament, the Wildcats will need to top the Tigers twice to earn the title of MEAC Champion once again.
Notes About the Savannah State Tigers (32-21)
The Tigers provide challenges in all phases of the game, and will be throwing their ace, MEAC Pitcher of the Year Kyle McGowin in an attempt to end the day early. McGowin is drawing attention among the nation's top pitchers, boasting an 11-1 record and 1.45 ERA, throwing 105 innings with 118 strikeouts. However, that lone loss was delivered by the Wildcats in his last meeting with B-CU.
Another area to keep an eye on is the Tigers' ability to put the bat on the ball. Hitting .272 as a team, seven batters rose above .290 this season and have put up gaudy hitting counts across the span of the tournament, logging 46 hits in three games. Led by shortstop Todd Hagen's .316 average, with a team-best 62 hits and 26 RBI. MEAC Rookie of the Year Mendez Elder also is hitting .316 with 42 hits and 23 RBI, despite missing a notable chunk of the season. Third baseman Joseph McCrary also is a notable threat, batting .297 with a team-high 32 RBI off 60 hits.
Adding to their run scoring ability is their MEAC leading and sixth nationally ranked 119 stolen bases. While the Wildcats have three primary base thieves, the Tigers have six in double figures, led by Darien Campbell's 24-of-25 and Antonio Scott's 23-of-26 marks.
Notes About the Wildcats (34-24)
The Wildcats have taken the long road after falling in the opening round to Coppin State, but are in the MEAC Title Game for the eighth consecutive season and have shown a pure will to win in their fight back to the final. B-CU also will throw its ace, Montana Durapau, sporting a 9-3 record with a 3.12 ERA, throwing 101 innings with 74 K's. Durapau is 1-1 against the Tigers, winning the last outing.
The Wildcats are led at the plate on the season by Josh Johnson's .320 batting, leading the team with 71 hits and 14 doubles, adding 19 RBI and 32 runs scored. Making his mark in his final MEAC tourney, senior center fielder Brandon Turner is solid, batting .400 on the week with a team-best .583 on-base percentage, scoring six runs and batting in three more. What has made the Wildcats' run so special is that somebody new steps up when they are called upon, with different leaders every outing.
The Wildcats are also a notable threat on the bases, but more conservative. Turner leads the squad with a perfect 27-of-27 steals and the team has a .352 on-base percentage, which getting runners on ultimately will be the difference-maker against the Tigers.
Live Stats
Live Stats will be provided by the MEAC Media Relations Office at this link.
Game Day Hashtags
For our followers on twitter, the official hashtags throughout the tournament will be...
#HailWildcats
#MEACBaseball
#BeatSSU
For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feeds at @BCUathletics, @CookmanBaseball, or "Like Us" on Facebook at Bethune-Cookman Athletics.
-B-CUathletics.com-
