Alabama State University opened the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament with a 10-0 victory over Grambling State at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
A Night of Power at Rickwood
The Hornets' offense erupted early, with Miguel Oropeza leading the charge. He recorded a double, a home run and five RBIs, highlighted by a grand slam in the third inning that pushed the lead to 4-0.
Fabian Santana complemented the attack with a 3-for-4 performance, adding two RBIs, while Jackson Williams contributed two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Jorhan LaBoy earned the win, delivering five scoreless innings that yielded only five hits and four strikeouts.
Camden Matthews and James Peterson shut down the opposition in the final three frames, combining for five strikeouts and preserving the shutout.
Alabama State scored in four different innings, including a four-run third and a three-run eighth that capped the 10-0 final score.
Grambling State managed six hits but left nine runners on base, and Keyon Guillory took the loss, falling to 3-5 after surrendering seven runs.
The Hornets now advance to the winner's bracket, where they will meet either Bethune-Cookman University or Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the next round.
The performance underscored the team's depth and pitching dominance, setting a high bar for the remainder of the tournament.