SWAC rivalry renewed

Southern will host two-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference Champion Prairie View in a key three-game Western Division series beginning Saturday, with two seven-inning games and a nine-inning game Sunday at Lee-Hines field that will determine first place.
SU (8-9, 7-3 SWAC) has yet to play PV this year, but won just two of eight games against the Panthers a season ago, ultimately coming up one run short in the SWAC championship, 8-7.
“Execution is the name of the game playing against Prairie View,” said SU baseball coach Roger Cador. “We came up one run short of a SWAC championship the last time we played because we lacked execution. Most teams that beat us, beat us because of that.”
PV (12-12, 6-3) won two of three games against division foe Texas Southern, splitting with the Tigers Saturday and winning 10-8 Sunday, burying them in fourth place behind Grambling State.
“This series is important,” Cador said. “We’re both tied for first place, so having a chance to finish the first half of conference play in sole possession means a lot to the kids because of all the new people we had to insert into the lineup.”
SU defeated Alcorn 13-9, Tuesday night in Lorman, Miss. without catcher Michael Thomas (knee), outfielder Brad McDavid (suspension), outfielder Juan Mujica (ankle) and shortstop Jesse Olivar (ankle) but got a strong start from junior Sherrard Brooks (2-0), who struck out seven and didn’t walk any in six innings.
SU also got six RBIs from outfielder Victor Franklin, a bases-clearing double for three runs in the first inning and a bases-clearing triple for three of the four runs in the third.
“With all the missing pieces we have, we feel extremely fortunate to be where we are,” Cador said. “I tell my team all the time if you don’t beat yourself you’ll be awful tough to beat, but if beat yourself, its awful tough to win.”
SU will continue to make patchwork of it starting rotation as Chase Richard and Jarrod Malloy will take the mound in Saturday’s doubleheader, but Cador has yet to name a starter for game three Sunday.
“It’s unfortunate we don’t know who will pitch in game three, but that’s the demise of the starting rotation right now,” Cador said. “We’ve got to patchwork things until we get people in position to pitch.”
The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader will be televised live on Cox Sports at noon.