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#UAPBBASEBALL OPENS 2022 SEASON AT MLB ANDRE DAWSON CLASSIC

2/17/2022 7:07:00 PM

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team will kick off their 2022 season with a trip to New Orleans in the annual Andre Dawson Classic starting Friday through Sunday.

The Golden Lions will take on the University of New Orleans Friday at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN Watch, Prairie View A&M Saturday at 1 p.m. at Maestri Field, and Grambling St. at 3 p.m. at the MLB Youth Academy.

Dawson, one of five MLB players to hit at least 400 home runs (438) and steal 300 bases (314). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.

"We are excited for our program to be invited back to the Andre Dawson Classic," said UAPB head coach Carlos James. "This classic represents a lot for major league baseball, and it gives our kids an opportunity to experience playing in a great environment and a chance to meet some of the former MLB major league players.

The Golden Lions will be making their fourth appearance in the MLB Andre Dawson Classic, returning 23 returners and 11 newcomers. Headlined by preseason second-team All-Conference outfielder Kacy Higgins.

Higgins finished the 2021 season playing 25-33 games and ranked 10th in the SWAC Conference in batting average (.351/34hits/5doubles/12RBIs). Higgins was also ranked 13th in the conference in stolen base attempts (7-for-10) and was selected to the HBCU All-Star Team 2021 presented by Minority Prospect.

"Higgins role will be huge, because he brings a lot of experience," said James. "We played a lot of young guys last year, but having older guys like Higgins, Brandon Little, Braelin Hence, Dante Leach, and getting JaKobi Jackson back, is really going to help our program down the stretch."

The matchup with the Privateers will be the fourth meeting for the Golden Lions since 2015. The Privateers are led at the plate by Pearce Howard, who's batting .333 with seven homers and 56 RBI.

#1Team1Roar

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