FAMU baseball pitcher Hunter Viets the model of consistency with big league aspirations

Back on the road for Florida A&M baseball.

Last weekend, the Rattlers returned home for the first time in two weeks and swept the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East series against Mississippi Valley at Moore-Kittles Field.

Sparking a three-game winning streak moved the Rattlers up to be tied for first across SWAC East and West divisions. Infielder Sebastian Greico was awarded the conference's Hitter of the Week for having five hits, two homeruns, and 12 RBI's in the three victories over MVSU.

Now, the Rattlers (21-18, 15-3 SWAC) will travel to Montgomery for a challenging contest against the Alabama State Hornets (27-15, 15-3 SWAC) ― whom they are tied for first with in the SWAC.

Alabama State, the defending SWAC champions, and FAMU will meet for the first time this season.

"The tougher part of our schedule is ahead of us. [Alabama State] is hot right now," FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe said. "The games are probably going to be determined by pitching, so have to continue to get better on the mound. Just as easily we can sweep them, they can sweep us, so hopefully we can take a little momentum from this past weekend.

"It's not crucial that we win. It's crucial that we play good baseball to give ourselves a chance to win because anything can happen on the road. We want to position ourselves great for postseason play."

The teams played each other a total of seven times last season ― six of those were from conference series and one was from the 2022 Andre Dawson Classic. The Hornets edged the Rattlers 4-3 in head-to-head games.

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Rattlers starting pitcher Hunter Viets continuing to build on respect earned from last season

FAMU pitcher Hunter Viets has been a constant for the Rattlers since he arrived a season ago.

The senior made the jump to Division I by transferring from Division II Auburn at Montgomery ahead of the 2022 season.

He had a seamless transition and an immediate impact on the Rattlers ― being named the All-SWAC Second Team Pitcher ahead of a conference tournament run.

"I had to prove myself, earn my spot, and put the work in," Viets said. "Coming from Division II, I don't think the talent wasn't much different ― guys were still fighting just like [Division I]. But coming to FAMU, I had to make sure that I was getting my respect that I needed to make it known."

Viets has sustained his productivity this season. He currently has a 2.88 ERA which is third in the SWAC.

And he's done so with a new pitching coach Todd Alford ― who replaced Bryan Henry, who is now the head coach at Tallahassee Community College.

Preservation is also key as Viets battled some elbow soreness earlier this month ― missing the Rattlers' series at Jackson State.

"Todd came in here and has done a great job trying to fill the role that 'B. Hen' had last year," Viets said. "He works with me in making sure I'm ok and keeping the same attitude as I had last year and keeping the pitching staff accountable as a whole."

Viets coined the term 'Burn the boats' ahead of FAMU's season opener in February. This means that he wanted his teammates to buy in to the ultimate goal ― a SWAC championship and a NCAA National Tournament appearance in his final year of college baseball.

Thus far, FAMU made strides in pursuing its objective as the team is on the upper echelon of the conference standings.

"Guys like Ty Jackson and our hitting staff as a whole never has a bad day," Viets said. "Our pitching staff is really coming along. I'm trying to make people follow and take my spot for when that time comes.

"We're still burning the boats and keeping it all together."

FAMU's Hunter Viets steadiness could possibility land him a MLB opportunity

Viets wants to continue playing baseball on the professional level once his college career concludes at this season's end.

He has the right people in his corner as Shouppe was drafted to the Houston Astros in the 1982 MLB Draft after playing at Florida State.

"Hunter's a good pitcher and got good stuff," Shouppe said. "He has a good changeup, a curve, and a slider. He not only has a chance to help us win the SWAC this year, but a chance at pro ball because I think he's very deserving of that.

"He's a good young man, good student, and he's exactly what college athletics is all about."

Alford was a Division I pitcher at South Alabama in the late 80's, early 90's ― what he calls the 'stone age.'

"Hunter is already a way better pitcher and more talented than I was," Alford said. "He's an awesome kid to work with and provides so much leadership to a very young pitching staff. He not only leads with the stats, but he leads by example.

"It's fun to manage him in a game and watch him work. I think he's got an opportunity to play at the next level because he can throw pretty much any pitch in any count. Not a whole lot needs fixing for him."

Every time Viets step on the mound is an opportunity.

And that's all he will treat it as he chases a SWAC Championship while professional scouts analyze his game from the bleachers.

"Shouppe's been really good about talking to me about keeping my head leveled when scouts come in," Viets said. "Whenever I go out there, I see them out in the stands and I just have to keep playing my game to get a win instead of trying impress anyone."

Florida A&M at Alabama State SWAC Baseball Series Information

When: Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

Where: Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex; Montgomery, Alabama

FAMU softball looks to get back on track in crucial series at Jackson State

The Rattlers fell on tough times last week.

They spent it on the road for two SWAC series ― making up a portion of the postponed series against Alabama A&M last Wednesday before traveling to Bethune-Cookman for the weekend.

FAMU dropped four of its five games over the span, beating B-CU in the series opener with a walk-off three-run homer by infielder Jane'a Mobley. The Rattlers lost the two games against Alabama A&M and the latter two games of the three-game series against B-CU in Daytona.

"It was definitely a long week," FAMU head coach Camise Patterson said. "But the bounce back is there. The biggest thing is reemphasizing that we're a great team and have to play like it."

Next, FAMU (18-20, 11-9 SWAC) is on the road against in Jackson State (22-24, 11-10 SWAC).

The teams are neck-and-neck for the fourth and final spot in the SWAC East to reach the conference tournament.

"It's an important weekend for us," Patterson said. "We've gone through the different scenarios and what it looks like for us making it to the postseason.

"I'm confident that we have the ability. We just have to play how we know."

The last time FAMU and JSU met was in Tallahassee as the Rattlers swept the Tigers in the SWAC-opening series.

Florida A&M at Jackson State SWAC Softball Series Information

When: Friday, April 28 at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. ― Eastern Time

Where: JSU Softball Stadium; Jackson, Mississippi

How to watch: ESPNU (Friday), Jackson State Sports Network

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Rattlers pitcher Hunter Viets chasing championships, pros