The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) baseball squad saw its 2026 campaign come to an abrupt close on Tuesday night in Birmingham, Alabama, as the Golden Lions fell 8‑5 to Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference semifinals.
A Rain‑Soaked Battle in Birmingham
A three‑hour weather interruption forced the game to pause after the fourth inning, resuming at 8:45 p.m. before finally wrapping up just before midnight, adding a dramatic backdrop to a contest that swung back and forth.
Alabama State’s Miguel Oropeza ignited the scoring with a three‑run homer in the fourth, followed by Niguel Jenkins’ solo shot, while James Peterson closed the game with his fourth save of the season.
UAPB answered in the eighth, where Zach Wieder’s sacrifice fly brought home a run and Aaron Grant doubled in another, narrowing the gap to 8‑5, but the rally fell short.
Despite the late surge, Alabama State’s Trey Power had earlier limited the Lions to three runs on ten hits over five and two‑thirds innings, while UAPB’s Nick Hockemeyer drove in two RBIs and finished 3‑for‑4 with a run.
Zach Wieder also shut down the Hornets in the final 1.1 innings, preserving the bullpen’s effort, but the team could not overcome the earlier deficit.
A Season of Milestones
The loss capped a season in which UAPB amassed 25 victories, matching the program’s highest win total since transitioning to Division I, and set a new school record with 24 wins against Division I opponents.
Coach Nate Lee praised the team’s resilience, noting that the experience will shape the next recruiting class, while Athletic Director Joe King highlighted the program’s upward trajectory.
The roster also featured Zyon Hamilton and Jose Vasquez, who contributed depth throughout the year.