Albany State baseball riding win streak into series against Spring Hill College

ALBANY — One of the SIAC’s fiercest baseball rivalries is set for another chapter as Albany State travels to Mobile to face first-place Spring Hill College in the final regular-season series before the conference tournament.

The Golden Rams, winners of six straight and eight of their last ten, will try to slow the Badgers’ dominant run beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. The teams will then play a doubleheader Friday starting at noon.

These programs have developed a history of clashing when the stakes are highest. Spring Hill won the SIAC title in both 2022 and 2023, but Albany State knocked the Badgers out of last year’s tournament — and now the Golden Rams are surging just in time for a rematch. Albany State enters the weekend 25-18 overall and 20-10 in SIAC play, while Spring Hill sits atop the standings at 34-10 and 27-2 in conference action.

Albany State has struggled with consistency throughout the season, but Head Coach Scot Hemmings is hopeful his team is heating up at the right time.

“I told the guys, ‘We are going to play baseball,'” Hemmings said. “Who we play doesn’t matter, nor how good or bad they are. We just have to play our game and stay within our system.”

Spring Hill brings a powerful offense to the series, having scored 57 runs last weekend in a three-game sweep of Benedict College. The Badgers are led by outfielder Jackson Bell, who enters the series with a .415 batting average, six home runs, and 45 RBIs. Teammates AJ Swader (.379), Seth Williams (.375), Bryce Anderson (.364), and Jack Taylor (.347) also carry averages above .300. Swader leads the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (52).

On the mound, the Badgers have relied on a reliable rotation, with Korey Bunselmeyer (9-1) and Michael Racobaldo (7-1) combining for 16 wins. Miles Justin (5-2) leads the team with a 2.35 ERA.

“They are talented and well-coached,” Hemmings said. “But I feel like we are playing well right now. It will be a good series of high-level baseball this weekend.”

The Golden Rams bring their own offensive firepower into the matchup, with six players batting over .300: Austin Roberts (.368), Hill Corley (.359), Tyler Turner (.353), Luke Addison (.347), Matt Delay (.342), and Emory Stephens (.309). Addison and Delay share the team lead with nine home runs apiece, and Addison tops the RBI chart with 57.

Hemmings said he is uncertain who will start on the mound for Albany State this weekend, noting the series won’t significantly affect the team’s tournament seeding.

“I may go with some guys who have not pitched a lot,” he said. “It looks like we will end up fourth or fifth regardless.”

Landon Kiefer leads Albany State’s pitching staff with a 9-1 record and a 3.20 ERA, while Gercal Reyes is 5-0 with a 3.41 ERA. Kiefer also leads the team with 88 strikeouts.