Grambling State’s late rally came up one run short Thursday afternoon as the Tigers saw their season end with a 7-6 loss to Bethune-Cookman in an elimination game of the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at historic Rickwood Field.
Grambling State finished the season 21-32 overall after battling back from a five-run deficit and bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
The Tigers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Dillon Braxton and Trey Bridges opened the game with consecutive singles before Aidan Lopez moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Charles Ashe III then drove in Braxton with a groundout to give GSU the advantage.
Bethune-Cookman answered in the second inning when Jose Fernandez blasted a solo home run to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats seized control in the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Maikol Lucena delivered an RBI single before Erick Almonte launched a three-run homer to right field to push the lead to 6-1.
Grambling State began chipping away in the fifth inning. Martavius Thomas reached after being hit by a pitch and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Braxton, trimming the deficit to 6-2.
Bethune-Cookman added what proved to be the decisive run in the bottom half of the inning when Michael Rodriguez scored on an infield throwing error to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 7-2.
The Tigers mounted their comeback in the eighth inning.
Braxton led off the frame with a double before Bridges singled to place runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Braxton to score and cut the deficit to 7-3. Ashe followed with a single to load the bases before Cameron Hill drew a bases-loaded walk. Chris Marcellus later added an RBI walk and Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, pulling Grambling State within 7-6.
The Tigers, however, were unable to complete the comeback as Pablo Torres retired Grambling State in order in the ninth inning to secure the save.
Bridges led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Hill added two hits while Ashe finished with a hit and two RBIs. Braxton scored twice and collected two hits.
Trevor Esparza (4-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs in three innings. Rafael Capistran and Payton Allen combined to hold Bethune-Cookman scoreless over the final five innings.
