Big-time baseball will happen at Moore-Kittles Field this weekend.
Florida A&M will host Jackson State for a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference series from Friday to Sunday.
A successful weekend could assist the Rattlers (15-14, 8-1 in SWAC) in maintaining the best record in the SWAC while the Tigers (16-11, 4-5 in SWAC), at sixth, look to score a series victory over the league’s top team thus far.
FAMU baseball versus Jackson State adds another chapter to the athletic programs’ budding SWAC rivalry. For example, FAMU and Jackson State are an even 9-9 versus each other since the Rattlers realigned to the SWAC before the 2021-2022 season.
“Jackson State. That’s enough to be said there. They’re always good,” FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Big series for us because it’s the middle of the season. I’d love to win this series because it could set us up to have a chance to finish high in the conference and secure a good standing for the SWAC Tournament.”
FAMU riding high atop the SWAC may catch some by surprise.
In the preseason poll, SWAC voters selected the Rattlers to be ranked fifth in the league. Part of the reason could be FAMU having a young team after losing key players from its 2023 SWAC title-winning team and standouts that helped the Rattlers reach the league’s semifinal round last year.
FAMU veteran shortstop Jalen Niles thinks the middle-of-the-pack SWAC preseason ranking may have motivated the Rattlers.
“Just having something to prove,” the fourth-year starting shortstop said.
“Everybody had high expectations for the teams that have come in the last couple of years. This year, the expectations weren’t as high as they’ve been in the past. We’re proving to people that this team is just as good, if not better, than teams we’ve had in the past.”
FAMU baseball, Jackson State going toe-to-toe in this weekend's SWAC series
FAMU’s success versus Jackson State this weekend hinges on pitching and containing the Tigers’ bunting ability.
On Friday, the Rattlers will start Preseason All-American and reigning SWAC Co-Pitcher of the Week
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