ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University baseball program will welcome both Major League Baseball (MLB) for a Play Ball Event (Saturday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m.) and the Florida A&M Rattlers to The Delta for a weekend series.
What You Need to Know
Time and Date: Friday, April 29 (2 p.m.) | Saturday, April 30 (1 p.m.) | Sunday, May 1 (12 p.m.)
Records: Mississippi Valley State (10-18-1, 4-12 SWAC) | Florida A&M Rattlers (18-23, 12-6 SWAC)
Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi – Magnolia Field
Series History: Florida A&M Leads 5-0
Last Meetings: March 25-27, 2022 | Tallahassee, Florida (Moore-Kittles Field | Florida A&M Swept Series 3-0 (Combined 37-6)
Winning Streak: Florida A&M (W5) | Mississippi Valley State’s Last Win: N/A
Mississippi Valley State Overview
MVSU is attempting to avoid being snake bitten by FAMU, having never defeated the Orange and Green in five tries (1981, 2012 & 2022 – 3x).
Dreylin Holmes has hit a bit of a rough patch of late but has still been mightily impressive in his debut season in the NCAA, leading the conference with a top-45 home runs per game average (0.33), second-most long balls in the league (9), and fifth-best slugging percentage (0.644) while leading the Devils in total bases (65), hits (30), runs scored (27), RBIs (25), walks (14), homers (9), and doubles (6).
Davon Mims currently boasts the highest batting average amongst his teammates with 29 hits over 90 at-bats (0.322) as well as tying for the triples lead at two three-baggers.
Maury Weaver holds steady at the top of the NCAA rankings for his stolen base prowess, landing at 7th nationally with 0.71 per game and 31st in the country at 20 swipes overall.
On the bump, Calvin McClendon has a top-ten ERA in the Southwestern Athletic Conference at 3.98 on top of being the staff frontrunner regarding innings pitched (52.0) plus H/9 (8.31).
Hunter Stallings has emerged as a viable Saturday starter or number two in the rotation, mowing down 43 batters (team-high) for a 9.84 K/9 with the club’s only complete game and one of its two saves to go along with the lowest WHIP (1.60) and walk-per-nine-inning ratio (5.49) as well.
Scouting The Opponent: Florida A&M Rattlers
Since sweeping the Diamond Devils in the Sunshine State, the Rattlers have gone 9-3 in SWAC play, losing only a single series to Jackson State during that span.
FAMU has primarily focused on its pitching staff to carry them to victories as it leads the SWAC with three shutouts (top-35 in NCAA) and is the second-best squad in the conference for both BB/9 (4.24) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.02).
Hunter Viets has been the most reliable starter, sporting the most victories in the league with six and a top-five ERA at 3.03 while Ben Krizen has been nearly automatic in late-game situations with the most saves this season with five.
Grant Rowell, LJ Bryant, and Adam Haidermota have been outstanding run producers for the men from capital of Florida, driving in 79 RBIs between them as Rowell also claims a healthy 0.324 batting average.
Your financial support, whether it be through purchasing season tickets, making an annual donation or committing to a major gift, directly benefits Valley’s student-athletes in the classroom and in sports.
