Holloway picks up win No. 100 in his fourth season with Selma U

Published 8:12 pm Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Selma University Bulldogs baseball team hit nine home runs in its two-game sweep of Rust College in Holly Spring, Mississippi Tuesday afternoon, and also delivered head coach Adrian Holloway his 100th career win.

Selma U defeated Rust 17-5 in game one for win No. 99, and took game two 18-4 to get Holloway to the century mark.

Before the season started, Holloway didn’t even realize he was within striking distance of the career milestone until someone brought it to his attention.

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“Once the season started, it crossed my mind a few times,” he said. “But honestly, you just want to get one win at a time.”

Even from the dugout, Holloway is a competitor that hates to lose at anything. His drive and disdain for losing has rubbed off onto his players.

“They’ve caught that competitive spirit, and without the players this is not something I would’ve been able to do,” he said. “I didn’t think much about it, but now that it’s here, I realize that it is a great accomplishment. Not many coaches get to do that at one university.”

Holloway, who also serves as the university’s athletic director, began his coaching career with the Bulldogs in 2014. This season, the team hopes to advance to the USCAA World Series if they can finish in the top-eight of the league.

The Bulldogs are 11-10, and Holloway’s team is getting hot just in time to make a playoff push.

The team is on a five-game winning streak, and has six games remaining on its schedule.

“It’s crunch time, so we’re really playing for our playoff lives,” Holloway said. “It’s a lot on the line with each game we play. I think the guys have grasped the magnitude of each game, and have turned it on. I’m glad we’re able to catch fire towards the end.”

The lineup has been dialed in at the plate, and have been launching home runs against opposing pitchers all-season long. The 32 team home runs are the most in a season by a Bulldogs team since Holloway has been the coach, and junior first baseman Marcus Hardy is leading the way with nine dingers himself this season.

“We’re turning it on at a clutch time,” Holloway said. “The guys are stepping up big. I’m proud of them.”

The Bulldogs were last ranked No.5 in the USCAA power rankings, and 12th in the standings. Holloway believes the team is still in a good position to make the final push through the final week of the season to get into the playoffs.

“We’ve got a pretty good shot to get in, but we have to do our part,” he said.

As important as win No.100 is for Holloway, he and the Bulldogs are focused on their next road series against LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee this upcoming Tuesday. The highly competitive coach is always looking for the next win.

“Without a good coaching staff, great players and God leading the way, none of this would’ve been possible,” he said. “I’m just very humbled and thankful. I’m looking forward to 100 more.”