MEAC round-up

Your weekly news from around the MEAC!  
Photo Courtesy of MEACsports.com

With one game left for the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team and riding a 15-game conference win streak, they have clearly solidified the MEAC regular season title. The Lady Aggies are undefeated in conference play and plan to keep it that way against state rival North Carolina Central. The Aggies have already beaten NCCU this year 52-49, and plan on making history repeat itself and end the season undefeated.

Norfolk State Men’s basketball made history this past week as they were able to capture their second Regular Season Title. In dominating fashion, the Spartans rolled over Coppin State in a 72-38 victory. Even though the Spartans can still tie with NCAT for first in the conference, they have already clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming MEAC tournament.

On the diamond this week fans had a lot to cheer for as several teams for baseball and softball picked up well needed wins.

On the women’s side the big news of the week came as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore welcomed a new coach. A former University of Wisconsin softball player and former George Mason University Assistant Coach, Karla Powell signed a four-year contract to coach the women’s softball team.

Not much has changed in the standings as Delaware State still leads the northern division with a 1-1 record.  Surprisingly, the Southern Division is performing well against non-conference opponents. Including Bethune-Cookman taking down No. 17 Oregon and Kansas. Florida A&M was also able to pick up a well needed win as they took down Syracuse in dominant fashion in a 10-2 victory. Bethune-Cookman still leads the division with a 6-10 record but NCCU isn’t far behind in the No. 2 spot with a 5-10 record.

For all MEAC baseball fans you must recognize the potential these programs have. Coaches and players have noticed how teams have gotten better this season including FAMU head baseball coach Jamey Shouppe.

“The MEAC this season in the Southern Division is as good as it's ever been. Every year the conference Is getting better,” Shouppe said. “Our preseason ranking is something we’ll use as ammunition for this team because we feel we're better than that.”

FAMU baseball clearly upset by the MEAC’s preseason ranking proved they are a contender as they picked up their first series win against non-conference opponent Jackson State. They defeated Jackson in a tough three-game series.

B-CU on the other hand took it a step further as they took down Ohio State in a one-sided 8-3 victory. Led by pitcher Jordan Pinto, he threw for six innings and on the offensive side Brandon Wilkes helped spark the Wildcat offense with a few RBI’s to help bring home the win.  

Despite rough starts for several teams including FAMU, these past performances against non-conference opponents show the potential these teams may show once conference matchups begin. Coppin State and NCAT still lead the Northern and Southern Divisions respectively as they are still the only two teams with winning records. However, don’t count out teams such as FAMU, B-CU, and Delaware State to close the gap as the season continues.