SWAC Baseball Notes Duane Lewis 03/11/10 CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS THIS WEEKEND Conference play begins for eight of the SWAC’s 10 teams this weekend as the quest to earn a berth in the conference tournament begins. Southern begins defense of its title at home vs. Prairie View A&M. Last season, the Jaguars won four of six games vs. the Panthers. Alcorn State, last season’s conference runners up, will open at home vs. Jackson State. J-State won four of six matchups between the teams in 2009. Mississippi Valley State, the defending Eastern Division champs, will open at Alabama A&M. MVSU won three of the four games played between the teams last season. The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff will open conference play at home in a Western division series vs. Texas Southern. The division rivals split their six contests last season. THIS WEEK’S SWAC SCHEDULE Friday, March 12 Jackson St. at Alcorn St., 6 p.m.* Saturday, March 13 Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M (DH), Noon* Alabama St. at Grambling St.(DH), 1 p.m. Jackson St. at Alcorn St. (DH), Noon* Prairie View A&M at Southern (DH), Noon* Texas Southern at Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH), Noon* Sunday, March 14 Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M, Noon Prairie View A&M at Southern, 1 p.m.* Texas Southern at Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff, 1 p.m.*