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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Alabama State captured the 2026 SWAC Baseball Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon with an 8-6 victory over Florida A&M Athletics at Rickwood Field, securing the Hornets’ first conference tournament title since 2022.

Alabama State used a balanced offensive attack and timely pitching performances to hold off a late Florida A&M rally and finish the tournament championship run with 13 hits.

Tournament MVP Miguel Oropeza paced the Hornets throughout the tournament, batting .571 with eight hits, 13 RBI, two home runs and a 1.143 slugging percentage across four games. Oropeza also contributed in the championship game with two hits, one RBI and two runs scored.

Fabian Santana continued his strong tournament performance in the title game, collecting two hits and one RBI. Santana closed tournament play batting .571 with eight hits and five RBI.

Trey Callaway delivered the biggest hit of the championship contest with a sixth inning three-run home run that extended the Alabama State lead to 8-2. Callaway finished the tournament with six RBI and a home run while batting .313 in four games.

The Hornets struck first in the opening inning when Niguel Jenkins delivered an RBI single to left field to score Breydon Divine. Jenkins finished tournament play with three RBI and a home run.

Florida A&M answered immediately in the bottom half of the first inning as Jackson McKenzie doubled to right center to drive in Jay Campbell and even the contest at 1-1.

McKenzie and Campbell both capped off standout tournaments for the Rattlers. McKenzie batted .529 with nine hits, two home runs and a tournament-best 1.176 slugging percentage. Campbell hit .500 with eight hits, six RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Alex Monile also starred offensively for Florida A&M, batting .636 during tournament play.

Alabama State regained the lead in the third inning when Oropeza singled to left field to plate Devin Chandler. The Hornets then broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning highlighted by RBI singles from Santana and Chandler before Jenkins added another RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Florida A&M cut into the deficit in the fourth inning when Josue Figueroa doubled to left center to score Matthew Perez.

On the mound, Jorhan LaBoy and James Peterson anchored Alabama State’s pitching staff throughout the tournament. LaBoy posted a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched while Peterson recorded two saves and 11 strikeouts across 13.2 innings.

Florida A&M mounted a late rally beginning in the seventh inning as Campbell singled home William Brown to trim the deficit. The Rattlers added three more runs in the eighth inning following a throwing error and a sacrifice fly from Brown to make the score 8-6.

Despite the late push, Alabama State held on over the final two innings to secure the championship victory and claim the SWAC Baseball Tournament crown.

All-Tournament Team
Ryan Hunter, Southern
Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
Vinny Saumell, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Aaron Grant , Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alex Monile, Florida A&M
Jesus Campa, Florida A&M
Jackson McKenzie, Florida A&M
Jay Campbell, Florida A&M
Fabian Santana, Alabama State
James Peterson, Alabama State
Jorhan LaBoy, Alabama State
Miguel Oropeza, Alabama State (MVP)

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.