Alabama State turned a long, weather-delayed day into a statement win on Friday in the SWAC Baseball Tournament.
The Hornets stormed back from a five-run hole to pull off an 8-7 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Rickwood Field on a soggy day.
ASU looked all but out of it entering the late innings, trailing 7-2 in a game that started in the morning, paused for hours due to weather, and didn’t resume until early evening.
But when play picked back up, so did Alabama State’s fight.
Hornets overcame slow start
Sparked by timely hitting and relentless pressure, the Hornets erupted for six runs across the seventh and eighth innings to flip the game on its head and stay unbeaten in the tournament.
The comeback began in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Miguel Oropeza delivered the first big blow, ripping a three-run double to center field that trimmed the deficit to two. Moments later, Trey Callaway came through with an RBI single to make it a one-run game and shift the momentum fully into Alabama State’s dugout.
Then came the defining swing.
In the eighth inning, after Alex Espaillat reached and advanced into scoring position, Devin Chandler stepped to the plate and delivered the knockout punch — a two-run home run to left field that gave Alabama State its first lead since the opening inning.
Alabama State used late-inning magic
Chandler finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI, leading a Hornets offense that refused to fade. Oropeza added four RBI in a clutch performance, while Callaway and Jackson Williams each chipped in key hits.
🐝 Devin Chandler sends that ball back to Montgomery and the Hornets complete the comeback! Hornets take the victory 8-7 and punch their ticket to the next round! 🔥 #SWARMAS1 #HornetNation pic.twitter.com/gknFSxoRmd
— Bama State Athletics (@BamaStateSports) May 23, 2026
Earlier in the game, Alabama State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind RBI singles from Oropeza and Williams. But Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered quickly and eventually took control, capitalizing on defensive miscues and stringing together timely hits to build what seemed like a comfortable lead.
Zach Wieder paced the Golden Lions with multiple RBI, while Vinny Saumell’s solo home run in the seventh pushed the lead to 7-2, just before the Hornets’ rally began.
On the mound, Camden Matthews slammed the door in the ninth, retiring Arkansas-Pine Bluff in order to seal the comeback victory. He earned the win in relief, improving to 3-0 after tossing four innings and allowing just one earned run.
