Alabama State rallied past Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a weather-delayed Bracket B winners’ bracket game, while Southern stayed alive late Friday night with a 6-4 elimination-game win over Texas Southern.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Weather continued to shape the 2026 SWAC Baseball Tournament on Friday at Rickwood Field, forcing another major schedule adjustment and turning Day Three into a long test of patience, pitching depth and recovery.

Alabama State opened the day with an 8-7 comeback win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a Bracket B winners’ bracket game that featured multiple weather delays, including a suspension after the third inning. Southern closed the night by eliminating Texas Southern, 6-4, in Bracket A. The delays pushed Game 10 between No. 1 Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Game 11 between No. 3 Florida A&M and No. 2 Southern to Saturday.

Weather has now become one of the tournament’s biggest storylines. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Day One upset of Bethune-Cookman was delayed in the ninth inning and finished after midnight. Florida A&M’s Day Two win over Southern included a 1-hour, 59-minute rain delay. On Friday, Alabama State and UAPB were halted at 9:38 a.m., resumed at 11:39 a.m., then suspended again at 12:08 p.m. after the third inning before resuming at 5:16 p.m. 

All tournament games are broadcast on SWAC TV.

Game 8: Alabama State 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7

Alabama State trailed by five runs entering the bottom of the seventh, but the Hornets stormed back with four runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 8-7.

The Hornets scored first in the opening inning on Miguel Oropeza’s RBI single and Jackson Williams’ RBI single, but UAPB answered in the second when Zach Wieder singled home two runs to tie the game. After the weather delays disrupted the rhythm of the game, Arkansas-Pine Bluff moved in front in the fourth on Wieder’s sacrifice fly, then added three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to build a 7-2 lead.

Alabama State’s comeback started in the seventh. Fabian Santana and Devin Chandler singled, Breydon Divine was hit by a pitch, and Oropeza cleared the bases with a three-run double to cut the deficit to 7-5. Trey Callaway followed with an RBI single to make it 7-6. In the eighth, Alex Espaillat singled, Santana moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, and Chandler delivered the decisive swing with a two-run homer to left field.

Oropeza led Alabama State, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, a double, a walk and two runs scored. Chandler went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and the go-ahead home run. Espaillat added two hits off the bench, while Callaway and Williams each drove in a run. For UAPB, Vinny Saumell went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Zyon Hamilton went 3-for-5 with an RBI, Wieder drove in three runs, and Konner Giddley added two hits. 

Pitch counts:
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Ryland Morin 27; Jordan Medellin 78; Jalen Porter 44.
Alabama State: James Peterson 78; Camden Matthews 62.

Result: Alabama State advances to Saturday’s Bracket B final. Arkansas-Pine Bluff drops into an elimination game against Bethune-Cookman.

Game 9: Southern 6, Texas Southern 4

Southern stayed alive in Bracket A by scoring five runs in the first inning and holding off Texas Southern, 6-4.

The Jaguars wasted no time in the bottom of the first. Ryan Hunter doubled, KJ White Jr. bunted for a hit, Jaylon Lucky walked, and Southern used a Texas Southern defensive miscue, a Kameron Byrd bases-loaded walk, a Kenyon Hughes RBI single, a Donny Sandifer sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to build a 5-0 lead.

Texas Southern answered with two runs in the third on sacrifice flies by Nate Lopez and Anthony Ruiz, then added another run in the fifth on Ruiz’s RBI single to make it 5-3. Southern pushed across an insurance run in the seventh when Xavier Bradley reached on an error and later scored on Lucky’s double-play grounder. Texas Southern made it 6-4 in the eighth on Shaun Williams’ RBI single, but Caleb Ellis worked three innings of relief to earn the save.

Hunter and White led Southern with two hits apiece. Hughes went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Byrd reached three times and drove in a run, and Bradley doubled and scored. Texas Southern got two-hit games from Christopher Chavez and Ruiz, while Williams added an RBI single. 

Pitch counts:
Southern: Daniel McIntosh 39; Genesis Prosper 42; Caleb Ellis 58.

Result: Southern advances to face Florida A&M. Texas Southern is eliminated.

Day Four Preview

Game 10 — No. 1 Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Saturday, 9 a.m. CT — Elimination Game, Bracket B

Head-to-head: Bethune-Cookman won the regular-season series 2-1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff won the tournament meeting 6-4 on Day One.

This is one of the most intriguing rematches of the tournament. UAPB has already shown it can beat the top seed, but the Golden Lions now have to do it after a long, weather-disrupted Friday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff used Ryland Morin, Jordan Medellin and Jalen Porter against Alabama State, with Medellin throwing 78 pitches and Porter throwing 44. That makes pitching management the biggest question for the Golden Lions.

Bethune-Cookman has had more recovery time since eliminating Grambling on Thursday, but the Wildcats also used four arms in that 7-6 win, including Harbersting Abreu for 110 pitches and Pablo Torres for 30. B-CU’s lineup has been dangerous all week, but the Wildcats have had to fight from behind in both tournament games. 

The key for Bethune-Cookman is early offense. If the Wildcats get traffic on base ahead of Jose Fernandez, Andrey Martinez, Michael Rodriguez and Erick Almonte, they can put immediate pressure on a UAPB staff coming off a long Friday. For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the formula is similar to Day One: get production from Zach Wieder, Aaron Grant, Vinny Saumell, Zyon Hamilton and Konner Giddley, and force Bethune-Cookman to play from behind again.

Game 11 — No. 3 Florida A&M vs. No. 2 Southern

Saturday, 12 p.m. CT — Bracket A Final

Head-to-head: Florida A&M won the regular-season series 2-1 and beat Southern 15-6 in the tournament on Thursday.

Florida A&M is in the driver’s seat. The Rattlers need one win to take Bracket A and advance to Sunday’s championship game, while Southern must beat FAMU twice. The first tournament meeting was one-sided offensively, with Florida A&M pounding out 19 hits. Jackson McKenzie went 4-for-6 with a double, triple, home run, four RBI and four runs scored, while Matthew Perez drove in four and Jay Campbell added a double, triple, two RBI and three runs. 

Southern did rebound Friday night by eliminating Texas Southern, but the Jaguars had to use Daniel McIntosh, Genesis Prosper and Caleb Ellis. Prosper threw 42 pitches and Ellis threw 58, which matters because both could be important again if Southern forces an “if necessary” game.

For Southern, the path starts with cleaner early innings. The Jaguars gave up runs in six different innings against FAMU on Thursday, and the Rattlers’ lineup has punished mistakes throughout the tournament. Southern needs length from its starter, a better first-time-through-the-order plan against McKenzie and Campbell, and continued offense from Ryan Hunter, KJ White Jr., Jaylon Lucky and Kenyon Hughes.

FAMU’s goal is simpler: keep the pressure on, make Southern use arms early, and avoid giving the Jaguars late life.

Game 12 — UAPB/BCU Winner Game 10 vs. No. 4 Alabama State

Saturday, 3 p.m. CT — Bracket B Final

Possible head-to-heads: If Alabama State faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama State won the regular-season series 2-1and now leads the tournament matchup 1-0 after Friday’s 8-7 comeback. If Alabama State faces Bethune-Cookman, Bethune-Cookman won the regular-season series 2-1.

Alabama State is one win from the championship game, but Friday’s weather marathon took a toll. The Hornets needed James Peterson for 78 pitches and Camden Matthews for 62 to survive UAPB. That means ASU may have to lean on the rest of its staff Saturday, especially if Game 12 becomes another high-scoring Bracket B game.

The Hornets’ advantage is momentum and power. Oropeza has been one of the tournament’s best hitters, and Chandler delivered the go-ahead two-run homer against UAPB. ASU has also shown it can win in different ways: a 10-0 run-rule win over Grambling, followed by a late comeback against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

If the opponent is UAPB, the question becomes whether the Golden Lions have enough pitching left after playing Game 10 and coming off Friday’s delay-filled loss. If it is Bethune-Cookman, the Wildcats will be trying to beat ASU for the third time this season, but they will have to do it after surviving an elimination game earlier in the day.

Game 11b — No. 2 Southern vs. No. 3 Florida A&M

Saturday, 6 p.m. CT — If Necessary

This game only happens if Southern beats Florida A&M at noon. If it gets here, pitching depth becomes the story. FAMU would still have the advantage of needing only one win on Saturday, but Southern would carry momentum from handing the Rattlers their first tournament loss.

The “if necessary” game would likely favor whichever team manages the noon game more efficiently. If Florida A&M has to burn through multiple bullpen pieces in Game 11, Southern’s chances improve. If FAMU gets length and keeps its biggest bats rolling, the Rattlers will remain in strong position to close the bracket.

Sunday Outlook

Game 12b — No. 4 Alabama State vs. UAPB/BCU Winner

Sunday, 9 a.m. CT — If Necessary

This game only happens if Alabama State loses Game 12. If needed, it would be another major pitching-depth test because the Bracket B survivor could be playing its third game in roughly 24 hours.

Game 13 — Championship Game

Sunday, 1 p.m. CT

The championship game remains winner-take-all between the Bracket A champion and the Bracket B champion. With weather delays stacking games together, the team that handles pitching usage, recovery time and early scoring opportunities best on Saturday will carry the biggest advantage into Sunday.

Modified Tournament Schedule

All Times Central | All Games on SWAC TV

Saturday, May 23

Game 10 — 9 a.m.
No. 1 Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Game 11 — 12 p.m.
No. 3 Florida A&M vs. No. 2 Southern

Game 12 — 3 p.m.
Winner Game 10 (UAPB/BCU) vs. No. 4 Alabama State

Game 11b — 6 p.m.
No. 2 Southern vs. No. 3 Florida A&M, if necessary

Sunday, May 24

Game 12b — 9 a.m.
No. 4 Alabama State vs. UAPB/BCU winner, if necessary

Game 13 — 1 p.m.
Championship Game