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SUNO gearing up for West Division showdown

SUNO gearing up for West Division showdown
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March 26, 2026

 

HBCUAC BASEBALL  │  SERIES PREVIEW     SAT. MARCH 28 (3 & 5 PM)  |  SUN. MARCH 29 (2 PM)

WESLEY BARROW STADIUM  │  NEW ORLEANS, LA

 

KNIGHTS HOST WILEY IN PIVOTAL THREE-GAME SERIES

SUNO looks to build on HTU series win, avenge William Carey loss in weekend home slate

 

CLICK TO WATCH LIVE ON URBAN EDGE NETWORK:

GAME 1 & 2

GAME 3

 

01 — PREVIEW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern University at New Orleans enters this weekend's home series against Wiley University riding a surge of momentum. The Knights (10-10, 5-6 conference) took two of three from Huston-Tillotson last weekend — shutting them out 2-0 on Saturday before closing out the series with a dominant 9-6 win Sunday — before stepping up to face No. 13 nationally ranked William Carey on Tuesday, falling 10-1. But don't let the scoreline fool you: SUNO competed in that game, and a few critical mistakes amplified the final margin against one of the best programs in the NAIA.

Now the Knights turn their attention to a three-game home set against the Wiley Wildcats (14-13 overall, 8-4 conference), with a Saturday doubleheader at 3 and 5 PM and a Sunday finale at 2 PM. This is a series SUNO can win, and on their home field in front of their crowd at Wesley Barrow Stadium, the Knights will be motivated to show that the program is trending in the right direction heading into the back half of the season.

Wiley comes in hot within conference play, going 8-4 against league opponents. They carry a .271 team batting average with a .423 on-base percentage — showing patience at the plate — and 20 home runs on the season. The Wildcats have been especially dangerous at home, going 11-5 at their own facility. SUNO, meanwhile, is 6-3 at home this season, making Wesley Barrow Stadium an advantage the Knights must fully exploit across all three games.

 

02 — TEAM COMPARISON

 

SUNO KNIGHTS

CATEGORY

WILEY WILDCATS

10-10

Overall Record

14-13

5-6

Conference Record

8-4

.270

Team Batting AVG

.271

.423

On-Base Percentage

.423

113 (20 G)

Runs Scored

214 (27 G)

.362

Slugging %

.434

90

Walks Drawn

145

34-45

Stolen Bases (ATT)

96-111

7.16

Team ERA

6.22

.301

Opp. Batting AVG

.285

91

Strikeouts

165 (batting)

 

03 — PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

SUNO KNIGHTS

WILEY WILDCATS

#16  KYLER SHEPHERD

.362 AVG │ 21 H │ 9 SB │ 17 BB

The Knights' leadoff engine is batting .362 with 17 walks and 9 stolen bases on 14 attempts. Shepherd has the ability to impact the game in multiple ways — on the bases, at the plate, and in the field. Against a Wiley staff that has allowed 145 walks, he is primed to get on base early and often.

#3  TREY CLARK

.286 AVG │ 18 H │ 11 SB │ 16 BB │ 15 RBI

Clark is Wiley's most dangerous table-setter, drawing 16 walks and swiping 11 bases while batting .286 with 15 RBI. He puts the ball in play consistently — striking out just 8 times in 63 at-bats — and carries a .472 OBP. SUNO's pitchers must work carefully against him early in counts or risk giving Wiley free baserunners to build rallies.

#7  DYLAN JIMENEZ

.327 AVG │ 17 H │ 2 HR │ 13 RBI

Jimenez is SUNO's most reliable run producer, leading the team with 13 RBI and chipping in with 2 home runs. He also carries a dual role on the mound (7.36 ERA, 2-1) and has proven he can deliver in high-leverage moments from the middle of the order. His bat will be central to SUNO's offense across the full series.

#9  IVAN DEL VILLAR

20 HR │ 172 RBI │ .434 SLG

Del Villar is Wiley's most complete player — leading the team in batting average (.338) and doubles (12) while driving in 23 runs. He also takes the mound as a starter, posting a 2.57 ERA in 7.0 innings. His .613 slugging percentage ranks among the best on the team, and SUNO's pitchers cannot afford to leave anything hittable over the middle of the plate against him.

#2  ENRIQUE HERAZO, JR.

.341 AVG │ 14 H │ 5 BB │ 8 RBI

Herazo is hitting .341 in 15 starts and has been one of SUNO's most consistent contact hitters all season. His ability to put the ball in play and drive in runs from the heart of the order gives the Knights a reliable option behind Shepherd and Jimenez.

#7  ETHAN JONES

6.22 ERA │ 1.64 WHIP │ .285 BAA

Wiley's pitching staff has held opponents to a .285 batting average and carries a 6.22 ERA. In conference play, that ERA drops to 5.81 — showing the Wildcats' arms are capable of tightening up against quality competition. SUNO must work deep counts to get into the Wiley bullpen.

#40  CHRISTOPHER NUNEZ

4.73 ERA │ 2-1 │ 32.1 IP │ 28 K

Nunez is SUNO's anchor, having thrown 3 complete games in 6 starts and leading the staff with 28 strikeouts. His ability to eat innings is invaluable in a three-game series where bullpen management matters. If healthy and sharp, he could be the decisive factor in SUNO taking the series.

#18  JOHN BARAJAS

96 SB in 111 ATT │ 86.5% success

The Wildcats have gone 96-for-111 on stolen base attempts — an 86.5% success rate that ranks among the most aggressive running games SUNO will see all year. Caden Cantu (.974 fielding, elite at throwing) and the SUNO battery must be locked in from the first inning of Game 1.

 

04 — WILEY'S STRENGTHS — WHAT SUNO MUST NEUTRALIZE

 

On-Base Machine Lineup

Wiley's .423 on-base percentage is one of the most dangerous offensive indicators in the conference. The Wildcats draw walks at a high clip (145 on the season) and have 96 stolen bases in just 111 attempts — meaning once they get on base, they run. SUNO's pitching staff, which has struggled with free runners all season (111 walks allowed in 143.1 IP), must throw strikes early and force hitters to earn their way on. 

Proven Conference Form

Wiley's 8-4 conference record tells you this isn't a team that fades against league competition. Their .324 conference batting average — 53 points higher than their overall mark — shows they elevate their game when the stakes matter. SUNO is currently 5-6 in conference play and needs this series to start closing that gap. Wiley won't make it easy. 

Home Game Mentality on the Road 

Though Wiley is 3-8 away from home this season, their conference road mark may tell a different story. SUNO cannot assume the Wildcats will be rattled by Wesley Barrow Stadium. A 14-13 team with 20 home runs and a .423 OBP has enough firepower to make noise on any field.

 

05 — HOW SUNO CAN WIN THE SERIES

 

01

Control the Running Game on Both Sides

SUNO's 34-for-45 stolen base success rate is a legitimate weapon — but Wiley's 96-for-111 on the basepaths is equally dangerous. The Knights must stay aggressive on offense while making sure Caden Cantu is dialed in behind the plate. The team that wins the stolen base battle will likely win the series.

02

Exploit Wiley's Home/Away Split

The Wildcats are 11-5 at home but just 3-8 on the road. That's a significant disparity. SUNO needs to attack early in each game, establish leads, and make Wiley uncomfortable playing away from home. Get to Wiley's starter before they settle in.

03

Use the Christopher Nunez Advantage

Nunez (4.73 ERA, 28 K, 3 CG in 6 starts) is a legitimate front-line starter capable of going deep into games. If SUNO can align Nunez for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, the Knights gain a significant advantage in the opener and allow the rest of the staff to be managed across Games 2 and 3. Innings pitched will be everything in a one-day-turnaround doubleheader.

04

Score Early, Score Often

SUNO has averaged 5.65 runs per game this season and is 4-6 in games decided by 5 or more runs. Against a Wiley staff carrying a 6.22 ERA, the Knights must not wait around. Get on base through the Kyler Shepherd and Dylan Jimenez combination, take risks on the bases, and capitalize on early mistakes before the Wildcats' bullpen gets involved.

 

06 — FINAL OUTLOOK

 

A Series SUNO Is Built to Win

Home field. Hot streak. The right matchup.

This is the kind of series that can shift a program's trajectory. SUNO comes in at 10-10 with a genuine winning streak interrupted only by a ranked, nationally elite program in William Carey. The Knights showed against WCU that they could still compete against top-level talent — and the final score didn't reflect how close the game actually was before mistakes compounded.

Wiley (14-13) is a program that trends below .500 against non-conference opponents but has been excellent in league play. SUNO's 6-3 home record is a legitimate advantage, and this roster — led by Kyler Shepherd, Dylan Jimenez, Enrique Herazo Jr., and Christopher Nunez — has the individual pieces to take this series. 

The pitching matchup is the biggest variable. SUNO's staff has been inconsistent (7.16 ERA), but Nunez gives the Knights a legitimate ace-level arm. If the bullpen can limit damage in Games 2 and 3, and the offense stays patient against a Wiley staff with a 6.22 ERA, the Knights should walk away with a series win.

This weekend is about the Knights showing who they are as a unit – patient at the plate, smart on the mound, aggressive on the bases. With Wesley Barrow Stadium behind them and a full three-game home slate ahead, the SUNO Knights have every reason to play loose, play aggressive, and play to win.