Jackson State hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff in SWAC baseball series opener

JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — Jackson State opens a pivotal Southwestern Athletic Conference series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. Thursday at Braddy Field.

The Tigers (21-23 overall) welcome the Golden Lions (21-30) with clear skies and a game-time temperature of 81 degrees.

Jackson State enters the three-game set on a high note after a 7-1 victory Sunday at Mississippi Valley State. Right-hander Derek Arrocha delivered a dominant performance, tossing a complete-game one-hitter with seven strikeouts and just one earned run. Arrocha, who has won each of his last four decisions, owns a 1.91 ERA over 33 innings in that stretch, including 22 strikeouts.

He is projected to start Thursday, though Jackson State had not confirmed its rotation as of Wednesday.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff arrives having lost its last two games to Grambling, including a 15-3 defeat Saturday. The Golden Lions have dropped 10 of their last 11 contests.

Right-handed reliever Emerson Lott is the key arm for Arkansas-Pine Bluff out of the bullpen. He has allowed one earned run over 4.2 innings across his last three appearances, striking out one while yielding one hit. Lott worked 2.1 innings against Grambling on Saturday, giving up one run on one hit with one strikeout.

The Golden Lions’ offense has struggled, scoring three runs or fewer in four of their last six games.

The series continues with games at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Jackson State victory in the opener.