Rain‑delayed ninth‑inning heroics fuel upset
No. 8 Arkansas-Pine Bluff delivered a stunning 6‑4 victory over top‑seeded Bethune-Cookman in the first round of the SWAC baseball tournament, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the event.
The contest was halted for more than an hour in the ninth inning as a sudden downpour drenched the field, but the delay proved pivotal when Zach Wieder delivered a clutch single that scored Weston Gingerich with the go‑ahead run.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, known as the Golden Lions, never trailed after opening with a three‑run burst in the first inning, a lead they defended despite a late rally attempt by Bethune-Cookman.
The Wildcats entered the tournament with road wins over Florida, LSU and South Florida, finishing the regular season at 37‑19, yet their momentum faltered against the resilient Golden Lions.
Bethune-Cookman’s fifth‑inning rally, sparked by Sergio Garcia’s RBI single, was answered by Andrey Martinez’s three‑run homer, but a clutch eighth‑inning single by Jose Fernandez kept the game out of reach.
The upset sends Arkansas-Pine Bluff to face Grambling State in the elimination bracket, while Bethune-Cookman’s season now hinges on a rematch against the Golden Lions.