Purdue Fort Wayne
Alabama State
Baseball Opens 2023 Season at Reigning SWAC Champion Alabama State
2/16/2023 3:51:00 PM | Baseball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Mastodons' third season in the Horizon League will start with a four-game non-league series at Alabama State this weekend.
Game Day Information
When:
Friday, February 17 | 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 18 | 3 p.m. ET | doubleheader
Sunday, February 19 | 2 p.m. ET
Where: Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex | Montgomery, Ala.
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Series History: Alabama State leads 4-2. The two clubs played a three-game series in 2013 with the Mastodons winning the series 2-1, and another three-game series in 2019 with the Hornets winning the series 3-0.
Weather: High of 52 Friday, 59 Saturday and 65 Sunday.
Probable Starters:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP JD Deany, LHP Jacob Myer, RHP Rex Stills, RHP Mac Ayres
Alabama State: LHP Osvaldo Melendez, RHP Evimael Quiles, TBD, TBD
Scouting the Hornets: Alabama State was 34-25 last season, going 21-8 in the SWAC. They ultimately ended up winning the SWAC tournament, but were defeated in the NCAA tournament by Tennessee and Georgia Tech. Junior Corey King was awarded three major SWAC awards, SWAC Player of the Year, Hitter of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Head coach Jose Vazquez received the title of SWAC Coach of the Year after leading the Hornets to 21 conference wins. Vazquez will be entering his eighth season as the Hornets head coach.
Scouting the Mastodons: The 'Dons start the 2023 season with a mix of experienced veterans and multiple newcomers. Three of the Mastodons in the starting rotation this weekend were with the 'Dons last season. Deany threw 71.0 innings last season and earned a 5-3 record. Myer picked up a Horizon League Pitcher of the Week honor last season after helping the 'Dons to a win over Michigan and a league win at Milwaukee. Stills put together a team-best 3.24 ERA in his freshman season, earning All-Horizon League Freshman Team honors. Ayres, a transfer from Ball State, brings three seasons of Division I experience.
Back for More: The 2023 season will be Justin Miller's fifth as a Mastodon. Miller owns 180 career strikeouts, the second most in program history for a career. He will look to pass Jason Horvath (2001-04) for the most in program history this season. Horvath recorded 210 strikeouts.
Back Again: Ben Higgins returns in 2023 after hitting a team-best.368 in league play while putting together an OPS of 1.112. In all games last season, Cade Fitzpatrick led the 'Dons in hitting at .321. He also returns. Fitzpatrick was an All-League Second Team pick last season.
Up Next: The 'Dons will head to Florida to play Bethune-Cookman in four games next weekend.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
