Irvin Escobar contributed three hits and drove in a run in helping top-seeded Bethune-Cookman win the opening game of the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament in a 5-3 decision over Texas Southern at Rickwood Field.
Texas Southern (22-31) struck first with a three-run second inning, highlighted by Tyler Legendre’s solo home run down the left field line – his seventh of the season.
Kelton Phillips added an RBI double at the top of the order the second time for the Tigers, before he later came around to score on Bryce Hughes’ infield single to give the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 3-0 advantage.
Bethune-Cookman (34-21) immediately responded in the bottom half of the second when All-SWAC second baseman Jesus Vanegas singled and eventually scored on catcher Irvin Escobar’s base hit through the left side to trim the deficit to 3-1.
Once again, the Wildcats chipped away at the deficit in the fourth inning when designated hitter Jose Fernandez blasted a solo home run to left field, giving him two round-trippers on the season, making it 3-2.
Sac fly adds an insurance run. Cats stretch the lead at 5-3 as we head to the top of the 9th.
📺 https://t.co/JAEOmBlKcm
📻 https://t.co/LGW2oOTPNj
📊 https://t.co/ZT0bLFC4Ds#𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 | #𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 pic.twitter.com/tkH7XIjSPk— ⚾️Bethune-Cookman Baseball (@BCUDiamondCats) May 21, 2025
BCU then tied the game in the fifth when speedster Daniel Figueroa doubled before working his way to third on Darryl Lee’s groundout.
He would then execute a perfect steal of home following a throw to first from Tigers pitcher Clavin McClendon as he tried to catch Andrey Martinez leaning at first after the third baseman was intentionally walked a play earlier.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the day in the home half of the seventh when Escobar doubled to right-center and scored on a Figueroa RBI single through the left side past the glove of a diving Jaden Flores at third base.
They added an insurance run in the eighth when Vanegas singled and later scored on Sergio Rivera’s sacrifice fly to left field, producing the final 5-3 score line.
The Wildcats’ pitching staff performed admirably after weathering the early storm. All-SWAC starter Edwin Sanchez recovered from the rough second inning to complete six solid frames, allowing just five hits while striking out six batters.
Florida A&M extends SWAC winning streak
Florida A&M’s Broedy Poppell drove in four runs while pacing the Rattlers scoring attack in a 9-1 win over Southern on Wednesday.
FAMU took a 3-0 advantage after the first three innings of play. Southern’s Nick Luckett was tagged with the loss as he pitched 6.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits.
ON TO THE NEXT 🤝@FAMU_Baseball advances to the next round of the 2025 SWAC Baseball Tournament. They will play the winner of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State game tomorrow at 6PM! #SWACBSB pic.twitter.com/kQULWIaRPf
— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 21, 2025
Florida A&M’s Garrett Workman was impressive in his first postseason start, allowing five hits and no runs to pick up the win for FAMU.
The Rattlers advance to face the winner of the Grambling State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff game on Thursday.
Hornets hold off late Jackson State rally
A five-run fourth inning and a dominant performance from the bullpen powered Alabama State past Jackson State, 7–6.
The Hornets (30–27) erased an early 1–0 deficit in the fourth inning, capped by Kameron Douglas’ grand slam to right-center, his 15th home run of the season.
Kelvin Agosto sparked the offense from the lead-off spot, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base, while Juan Cruz added two hits and scored twice.
After tying the game 1–1 in the third, Alabama State erupted in the fourth. A walk, an error, and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for Douglas, who delivered the decisive blow with one swing.
Jackson State (29-20) fell behind 7-1 through five innings before rallying for five of its own over three innings, including a two-run home run by Pierre Cabral in the sixth inning to trim the lead to 7-4.
BASES CLEARED
Kameron Douglas clears the bases to give Alabama State a 6-1 lead! #SWACBSB pic.twitter.com/zszwSo3Iwj
— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 21, 2025
The Tigers used a pair of RBI singles by Ledy Alvarez and Jordan McCladdie in the top of the eighth inning to trim the deficit to 7-6 before Alabama State (30-27) was able to hold on for the win in the ninth.
Eric Elliott (6-1) suffered the loss in the start, working four-plus innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits with five strikeouts, while throwing 106 pitches.
The Tigers collected 11 hits, led by three players with a pair of hits each. McCladdie finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. Hederick Torres finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Alvarez finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
ASU’s Jorhan Laboy (8–2) earned the win, yielding eight hits and four earned runs over 6.0 innings. He was supported by Will Smith, Trey Power, and Jafet Martinez, who combined to allow just two more runs over the final three innings.
Alabama State will face the top seed Bethune-Cookman in the second round on Thursday at 3 p.m. CST.
Defending SWAC champions have an offensive explosion
On Wednesday, the Grambling State Tigers defeated the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 13-6.
Grambling State’s Chenar Brown drove in a team-leading four RBIs while fellow teammates Aries Gardner and Cameron Hill collected three RBIs each.
𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚‼️🔥
Aries Gardner sends it of the park! @GramSt_Bsb currently leads 10-2 at the bottom of the 5th!#SWACBSB pic.twitter.com/8JFmJUUdKq
— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) May 22, 2025
On the mound, GSU was led by pitcher Mason Martinez, who pitched five innings, allowing five hits and one earned run.
UAPB was led offensively by Brant Voth, who contributed three RBIs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Kenny Fabian was credited with the loss after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing nine hits and nine earned runs.
Grambling State will face Florida A&M tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. CST, while UAPB is scheduled to face Southern in an elimination game at 12:00 p.m. CST.
