A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor
Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL – May 23, 2025
Day three of the SWAC Baseball Tournament delivered high-stakes drama, powerful offensive surges, and extra-inning heroics as teams battled for the right to reach Championship Sunday. Bethune-Cookman emerged from Bracket A in walk-off fashion, while Grambling State forced a decisive “if necessary” matchup in Bracket B with back-to-back elimination victories. The day featured 54 total runs scored across four games and standout performances on the mound and at the plate.
Bracket A – Elimination Game: Alabama State 5, Jackson State 3
Alabama State capitalized on timely hits and a strong bullpen to eliminate Jackson State. Juan Cruz drove in three runs, including a crucial 2-RBI single in the seventh that gave the Hornets the lead for good. Kameron Douglas added a solo homer. Trey Power threw four shutout innings in relief to earn the win, sending ASU to the Bracket A final.
Scoring Summary
- 3rd (ASU) – Isaiah Landry singled, advanced on a balk, then scored on a Juan Cruz sac fly. Kameron Douglas followed with a solo HR to center.
- 5th (JSU) – Arjun Huerta walked and scored on a Hederick Torres RBI groundout. Joseph Eichelberger also scored on a Jordan McCladdie single.
- 6th (ASU) – Devin Chandler tripled and scored on Fabian Santana’s RBI double.
- 7th (ASU) – After a hit-by-pitch and error, Juan Cruz drove in two on a single to center.
Pitch Count (Over 50 Pitches)
- Trey Power (ASU): 4.0 IP, 42 pitches
- Esaid Pena (ASU): 5.0 IP, 71 pitches
Top Performers – Alabama State
- Juan Cruz: 1-for-3, 3 RBI
- Kameron Douglas: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- Trey Power: 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, W
Top Performers – Jackson State
- Jordan McCladdie: 1-for-4, RBI
- Hederick Torres: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Bracket A – Bracket Final: Bethune-Cookman 8, Alabama State 7 (10 innings)
In a back-and-forth thriller, Bethune-Cookman walked it off in the 10th on Daniel Figueroa’s RBI single to eliminate Alabama State and clinch a spot in the championship. The Wildcats overcame a 6-3 deficit with a five-run seventh inning led by Jorge Rodriguez and Jeter Polledo. Figueroa finished with three RBIs, while Yoansell Diaz held the line late to earn the win in relief.
Scoring Summary
- 1st (ASU) – Kelvin Agosto singled, scored on Devin Chandler’s sac fly.
- 3rd (ASU) – Douglas homered to right.
- 5th (ASU) – Agosto tripled, scored on Cruz’s RBI single.
- 7th (BCU) – BCU rallied with a 5-run inning, highlighted by Jorge Rodriguez’s 2-RBI double and a Daniel Figueroa RBI HBP.
- 8th (ASU) – A throwing error and a Smiley RBI single gave ASU 3 runs.
- 8th (BCU) – Jeter Polledo RBI double, Figueroa RBI single.
- 9th (ASU) – Agosto scored on Douglas’s RBI single to tie it.
- 10th (BCU) – Polledo led off with a single, advanced on a sac bunt, and scored on Figueroa’s walk-off single.
Pitch Count (Over 50 Pitches)
- Pablo Torres (BCU): 6.0 IP, 88 pitches
- Carlos Jazmin (BCU): 1.0 IP, 26 pitches
- Yoansell Diaz (BCU): 2.0 IP, 47 pitches
Top Performers – Bethune-Cookman
- Daniel Figueroa: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, walk-off hit
- Jorge Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2 RBI double
- Jeter Polledo: 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Top Performers – Alabama State
- Kelvin Agosto: 2-for-5, 3 R, 3B
- Kameron Douglas: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
- DeMarckus Smiley: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
Bracket B – Elimination Game: Grambling State 16, Southern 2 (7 innings)
Grambling State erupted for 16 runs on 10 hits to eliminate Southern in a run-rule shortened contest. Trey Bridges powered the offense with a grand slam in the fourth inning and finished with 6 RBIs. The Tigers scored in every inning from the second through the sixth, including a six-run fifth that put the game out of reach. Nyan Hayes and Chris Marcellus each drove in two, while Randy Reyes went the distance on the mound, allowing just four hits and two runs in a 113-pitch complete game.
Scoring Summary
- 1st (SUB) – KJ White scored after an error on a fielder’s choice.
- 2nd (GSU) – RBI singles by Nyan Hayes and a 2-RBI hit by Chris Marcellus highlighted a 4-run inning.
- 4th (GSU) – Trey Bridges crushed a grand slam to break the game open, extending the lead to 8-1.
- 5th (SUB) – Jacoby Radcliffe singled and scored on Benny Bikar’s RBI hit.
- 5th-6th (GSU) – GSU poured in 8 more runs, with Bridges doubling in two more and Marcellus adding a 2-RBI double.
Pitch Count (Over 50 Pitches)
- Randy Reyes (GSU): 7.0 IP, 113 pitches
Top Performers – Grambling
- Trey Bridges: 2-for-4, HR, 6 RBI
- Chris Marcellus: 2-for-3, 4 RBI
- Nyan Hayes: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R
Top Performers – Southern
- KJ White: 1-for-3, R
- Benny Bikar: 1-for-2, RBI
Bracket B – Bracket Final: Grambling State 13, Florida A&M 0 (7 innings)
Grambling State dominated from start to finish, forcing a Saturday “if necessary” game with Florida A&M. Trey Bridges hit his second grand slam of the day as part of a 4-RBI performance, while Cameron Hill added four hits and three RBIs. Taylor Dooley tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just five hits across seven innings to keep Grambling’s title hopes alive.
Scoring Summary
- 3rd (GSU) – Five runs scored on an RBI single from Hill, a 2-RBI double by Chenar Brown, and RBI hits from Bridges and Marcellus.
- 4th (GSU) – Trey Bridges launched a grand slam, pushing the score to 10-0.
- 7th (GSU) – Jacobs-Guishard, Thomas, and Hill all drove in runs to extend the lead to 13.
Pitch Count (Over 50 Pitches)
- Taylor Dooley (GSU): 7.0 IP, 106 pitches
- Jay Campbell (FAMU): 3.1 IP, 78 pitches
Top Performers – Grambling
- Trey Bridges: 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
- Cameron Hill: 4-for-5, 3 RBI
- Chenar Brown: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
Top Performers – Florida A&M
- Justen Crews: 1-for-3, 2B
- Colton Ryals: 1-for-1, PH single
Outlook
Bethune-Cookman is now just one win away from capturing the SWAC Championship. Grambling State, the defending champions, will try to punch their ticket with a rematch against Florida A&M, the champions two years ago, in the Bracket B decider Saturday at 1:30 PM CT. Both teams will be managing arms carefully as pitch counts rise and pressure mounts. Championship Sunday is on the horizon—and so is SWAC baseball glory.
Preview: SWAC Tournament “If Necessary” Game
Saturday, May 24 | 1:30 PM CT | Rickwood Field — Birmingham, AL
Matchup: Florida A&M (32–24) vs. Grambling State (26–27)
*Winner advances to face Bethune-Cookman in Sunday’s SWAC Championship Game
After splitting their first two tournament meetings, Florida A&M and Grambling State will face off for the third time this week—and the sixth time this season—with a berth in the SWAC Championship Game at stake.
Head-to-Head So Far in 2025
- April 25: Grambling 6, Florida A&M 4
- April 26: Florida A&M 11, Grambling 4
- April 27: Florida A&M 11, Grambling 9
- May 22 (SWAC Tournament): Florida A&M 14, Grambling 4
- May 23 (SWAC Tournament): Grambling 13, Florida A&M 0
Grambling has shown explosive offensive potential, outscoring FAMU 29–14 over the last two games after dropping two of the first three meetings. Florida A&M’s earlier wins were fueled by deep and timely lineups, but the Rattlers have gone cold at the worst time—particularly in Friday’s shutout.
Key Players to Watch
Grambling State Tigers
- Trey Bridges (RF): 6-for-9, 3 HR, 12 RBI in last two games
- Cameron Hill (LF): 7-for-9, 4 RBI in last two games
- Chenar Brown (1B): 6-for-8 with 6 RBIs in the last three games
- Chris Marcellus (C): 6-for-11, 4 RBIs this tournament
Florida A&M Rattlers
- Jay Campbell (DH/P): HR in the first meeting vs. Grambling; 78 pitches thrown Thursday, 3.1 IP Friday
- Justen Crews (CF): Consistent bat with timely hits and run production
- Broedy Poppell (RF): Homered vs. Grambling on April 25 and tripled Thursday
- Matthew Perez (3B): Leads FAMU with multi-hit games in this tournament
Arms Race: Pitching Usage So Far
Grambling State
- Taylor Dooley – 106 pitches (Friday): UNAVAILABLE
- Mason Martinez – 89 pitches (Wednesday): Likely UNAVAILABLE
- Payton Allen – 57 pitches (Wednesday): Possibly Limited
- Randy Reyes – 113 pitches (Friday): UNAVAILABLE
- Brett Washington, Javier Martinez – Light usage, Available
- Remaining bullpen will be stretched; key relievers must step up.
Florida A&M
- Jay Campbell – 78 pitches (Thursday), 3.1 IP (Friday): Likely UNAVAILABLE
- Jesus Campa – 81 pitches (Thursday): UNAVAILABLE
- Carson Kelly – 63 pitches (Thursday), 3.2 IP (Friday): Questionable
- Garrett Workman – 102 pitches (Wednesday): Likely UNAVAILABLE
- Cody Williams – 49 pitches (Wednesday): Possibly Limited
- Depth options like Ryan Young or Brent Sims (24 pitches Friday) may be asked to open or close.
Key Storylines
- Who can survive the pitching attrition? Both teams have taxed their top arms. Who has enough pitching left to survive one more day?
- Can FAMU’s lineup rebound? After scoring 14 runs Thursday, they were blanked Friday (the first time this season).
- Will Grambling keep slugging? The Tigers have 34 runs and 42 hits in their last three games.
With their seasons on the line, expect both teams to be aggressive at the plate and creative with pitching decisions. This will be a battle of resilience and strategy, with championship dreams on the line. The winner will earn a shot at Bethune-Cookman and a chance to claim the SWAC Championship on Sunday.
In addition to writing for Black College Nines, A.D. Drew currently serves as the Director of Athletic Marketing at Morehouse College. Drew is also the current media coordinator for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl. Previously Drew has served as an independent consultant in athletic communications, having worked events such as The Celebration Bowl, MEAC-SWAC Challenge, Black College World Series, SWAC Championship Game, multiple SIAC championship events, and Gulf South Conference events, in addition to regular season sports and events at every NCAA and NAIA level. Drew has also completed athletic communications consulting work for institutions on NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels. Drew was previously the SIAC contributor to D2Football.com.
Drew does work for the Black College Sports Network, where he has worked as a producer, director, and on-air talent. Drew has provided either play-by-play or color analysis for the Orange-Blossom Classic, the Black College World Series, the GCAC (now HBCUAC) basketball tournament, SIAC Baseball, Softball, and Men’s Volleyball Championships, and regular season games for football, flag football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. Drew regularly hosts a podcast, the BCSN SportsWrap with Bryan and A.D., most Sundays at 6PM ET on the BCSN.
Drew also coordinates pressbox operations for Minority Prospects. Drew currently is a board member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association. Drew is a member of the College Sports Communicators. In the past, Drew has served as the Director of Administration for the Black College World Series (2022) and as the Director of Athletic Communications at Thomas University.