Alabama State University's baseball team captured the 2026 SWAC championship in a dramatic showdown that not only crowned the Hornets as conference champions but also secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
A Thrilling Final at Rickwood Field
The Hornets edged Florida A&M 8-6 in a game that swung back and forth until the final innings, with a costly throwing error by James Peterson in the eighth allowing two runs to score and a three-run homer by Trey Callaway that tied the single-season home run record for Alabama State.
Alabama State entered the tournament as the fourth seed and proceeded to go undefeated in Bracket B, defeating Grambling State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff twice to reach the title game.
Undefeated Run Through Bracket B
The Hornets finished the regular season with a 34-21 overall record and a 20-10 mark in the SWAC, and their top of the lineup delivered all four base hits in the final, showcasing the depth of a roster that includes Breydon Divine, Devin Chandler, Miguel Oropeza, Niguel Jenkins, Alex Espaillat, Fabian Santana, Jorhan LaBoy, Caleb Granger, Jay Campbell, Jackson McKenzie, William Brown and Jordan Brown.
A brief weather delay pushed the start time back to 4:15 p.m. CT, but the team's middle infield turned several key double plays to keep Florida A&M in check throughout the contest.
With the victory, Alabama State joins the field of the NCAA Tournament, marking a historic milestone for the program and its coaching staff.