Baseball 4/9/2019 10:26:00 PM Morris Wright

Claflin Host Rival Benedict Wednesday

Orangeburg, S.C. – The Claflin University baseball team entertain rival Benedict College of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) on Wednesday (Apr. 10) at Historic Mirmow Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Panthers will enter the mid-week contest at 19-10 and winners of their last five games, including a pair of come-from-behind victories over Virginia State University last Saturday. In the double-header sweep, Claflin trailed in both games until pulling off some late-inning heroics.

Jalen Sprull produced the game-winning hit in the seventh-inning of the opener, ripping a run-scoring single, enabling Claflin to post an 11-10 decision.

The second game saw Virginia State led 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth-inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Grayland Fowler provided what proved to be the game-winning hit, a two-run double. Fowler hit lifted Claflin in front at 2-1. The Panthers added an insurance run in the inning for a 3-1 victory.

Starting pitcher Cleveland Westbrook was outstanding in the game, allowing just five hits in going the distance.

As for Benedict, the Tigers took two-of-three games from fellow SIAC member Clark Atlanta the last time out, improving to 13-11 on the season.

Both teams will enter the game hitting over the .300 mark. Benedict is batting .320 with 15 home runs, while Claflin is hitting .307 along with 20 homers for the season.

The Panthers have five players hitting over .300, led by Eric McElveen at .398 with four home runs and 26 RBIs, followed by Craig Hopkins, who is batting .391 that includes a team-high five home runs to go with 29 RBIs.

Gerardic Dobbs is third in batting for Claflin with a batting average of .390 and is tied with McElveen for team-high in hits 39 followed by Clyde Parker at .375 with three home runs and a team-high 31 RBIs. Nicholas Johnson rounds out the group for the Panthers at .333 with three home runs.

Westbrook is the top winner on the mound for Claflin at 5-2 with 58 strikeouts in 54.1 innings of work. Two other pitchers are 4-1 on the season for the Panthers in Makai Holloway and Dillon Parker.

Benedict is led offensively by Myles Snype with a .440 batting average that includes 37 hits, three home runs and 39 RBIs.

Jacob Lagos, 4-2, is the leader of the Tigers pitching staff.

After the contest with Benedict, Claflin travels to Clark Atlanta for a three-game series this weekend. The series kickoff off Saturday (Apr. 13) with a double-header at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. followed by the finale on Sunday (Apr. 14) at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Grayland Fowler: INF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#12 Makai Holloway: P; 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/L

#20 Craig Hopkins: OF; 5' 10"; Senior; L/L

#13 Eric McElveen: 1B; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#26 Clyde Parker: C; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#10 Dillon Parker: P/OF; 6' 0"; Senior; L/L

#23 Jalen Sprull: OF; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#16 Cleveland Westbrook: P; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#15 Gerardric Dobbs: INF; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#21 Nicholas Johnson: INF; 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#6 Grayland Fowler
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#12 Makai Holloway
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/L
: P

#20 Craig Hopkins
: 5' 10"; Senior; L/L
: OF

#13 Eric McElveen
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: 1B

#26 Clyde Parker
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: C

#10 Dillon Parker
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/L
: P/OF

#23 Jalen Sprull
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#16 Cleveland Westbrook
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: P

#15 Gerardric Dobbs
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#21 Nicholas Johnson
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF