PREVIEW: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Bethune-Cookman

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Bethune-Cookman hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a non-conference college baseball game Saturday afternoon at Jerry D. Young Memorial Field.

The Wildcats (38-19) enter with the better record and are coming off a 7-6 win Thursday over Grambling. Shortstop Erick Almonte keyed that victory, going 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. The senior has been productive recently, with hits in four of his last five games, including a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs in a 12-1 win over Grambling on May 16.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (23-33) dropped a 8-7 decision Friday at Alabama State. Pitcher Jordan Medellin absorbed the loss, throwing 5 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on no hits with four strikeouts. The Golden Lions have won two straight against Bethune-Cookman, including a 6-4 victory Wednesday and a 10-6 win on May 2. However, the Wildcats took a pair of games on May 1 (16-9 and 6-4) in Daytona Beach.

Medellin, a right-hander, has been inconsistent. In his last six appearances, he allowed seven earned runs in a 15-16 loss to Southern on April 26, then threw three scoreless innings in a 4-6 loss at Jackson State on May 15. He also earned a save against Bethune-Cookman on May 2, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings.

Almonte leads the Wildcats offensively. In his last 10 games, he has two home runs and seven RBIs, including a 2-for-2 performance in a 23-1 rout of Grambling. He struggled against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on May 2, going 0 for 3 in a 10-6 loss.

The game marks the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has outscored Bethune-Cookman 26-26 over the four games, with each team winning twice. The Golden Lions’ offense has been sparked by catcher Vinny Saumell, who went 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI in Friday’s loss to Alabama State. Third baseman Zach Wieder added two hits and three RBIs in that game.

Bethune-Cookman’s pitching staff has been solid, led by Harbersting Abreu and Pablo Torres. In Thursday’s win, Abreu threw seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts. Torres closed with two scoreless innings.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. The game will be played at the neutral site of Birmingham, with no conference implications on the line. Both teams are looking to build momentum entering the postseason.