Gameday: Bulldogs vs. Texas Southern in SWAC Baseball Tournament

MAY 17, 2017
BULLDOGS VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN GAME NOTES

What: 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament

Who: Alabama A&M (9-15; No. 3 seed Eastern Division) vs. Texas Southern (14-10; No. 2 seed Western Division)

When: Wednesday, 9 a.m.

Where: Wesley Barrow Stadium, New Orleans

Live Stats: www.swac.org/liveStats/v2/baseball/index.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&GAME_STAT_ID=3126967&db_oem_id=27400

Audio: www.swac.org/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&catid=0&id=1889078&db_oem_id=27400

NEW ORLEANS – The Bulldogs' "second season" begins Wednesday morning in the Crescent City – the home of beignets and Bourbon Street.

A&M (12-43 overall) will take on Texas Southern (16-32) in the opening game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament with first pitch scheduled for 9 a.m.

This is the first-ever meeting, as well, between the two programs.

The Bulldogs feature the league's top relief pitcher and NCAA strikeout leader in Brandon Marsonek and one of the league's best fielders in first baseman Carson McGregory.

Recently named the All-SWAC first team relief pitcher, Marsonek has 127 strikeouts and also leads the nation with 104.1 innings pitched. The senior lefthander has a league-high 37 mound appearances – second most in the NCAA.

Although primarily a relief pitcher, Marsonek has started seven games and completed three, which is second-most in the SWAC. A four-time SWAC Pitcher of the Week, he leads the NCAA in two categories and SWAC in seven categories:

Strikeouts: 127 - First in NCAA, SWAC
Innings pitched: 104.1 - First in NCAA, SWAC
Mound appearances: 37 - First in SWAC; second in NCAA
Strikeouts per 9 innings: 10.96 - First in SWAC; 42^nd in NCAA
Strikeouts looking: 51 - First in SWAC
Games finished: 27 - First in SWAC
Games in relief: 30 - First in SWAC
Saves: 6 - Second in SWAC; 113th in NCAA
Complete games: 3 - Second in SWAC; 17^th in NCAA
Opposing batting average: .236 - Third in SWAC
ERA: 3.02 - Fourth in SWAC

McGregory, a junior, leads the conference with 396 putouts. He also has handled the most chances in the league with 422 and made just six errors for a .986 fielding percentage.

BULLDOG BITES

TOP STARTER: Right-handed pitcher Blaine Milam is tied for the SWAC lead and is fourth in the nation with 14 starts.

GUNNED DOWN: Catcher Zeth Malcom has thrown out 21 runners – second most in the SWAC.

AT THE PLATE: McGregory and Carlton Peppers are fourth and fifth in the SWAC in at-bats. McGregory has 200 and Peppers has 197. In total plate appearances, Peppers is ninth with 225 and McGregory 10^th with 224.

LAYING IT DOWN: Joannes Diaz is fourth in the league with nine sacrifice bunts.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Carlton Peppers: CF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#16 Carson McGregory: 1B; 6' 1"; Junior; R/L

#17 Joannes Diaz: SS; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#29 Blaine Milam: P; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

#34 Brandon Marsonek: P; 6' 1"; Senior; L/L

#35 Zeth Malcom: C; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Carlton Peppers
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: CF

#16 Carson McGregory
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/L
: 1B

#17 Joannes Diaz
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: SS

#29 Blaine Milam
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: P

#34 Brandon Marsonek
: 6' 1"; Senior; L/L
: P

#35 Zeth Malcom
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: C