BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The 2026 season came to an end for the Grambling State baseball team on Thursday afternoon as Grambling State rallied late but fell just short in a 7-6 loss to Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in an elimination game at the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball Tournament at Rickwood Field.
Grambling State closed the season with a 21-32 overall record after battling back from a six-run deficit and bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
The Tigers struck first in the opening inning. Dillon Braxton led off the game with a single before Trey Bridges followed with a base hit. After a sacrifice bunt by Aidan Lopez moved both runners into scoring position, Charles Ashe III drove in Braxton with a groundout to give GSU a 1-0 lead.
Bethune-Cookman answered in the second inning when Jose Fernandez launched a solo home run to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Maikol Lucena delivered an RBI single before Erick Almonte connected on a three-run homer to right field that pushed Bethune-Cookman ahead 6-1.
Grambling State chipped away in the fifth inning. Martavius Thomas reached after being hit by a pitch and later scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Braxton, trimming the deficit to 6-2.
Bethune-Cookman added what proved to be the deciding run in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Rodriguez scored on an infield throwing error to extend the Wildcats' advantage to 7-2.
The Tigers mounted a furious rally in the eighth inning.
Braxton opened the frame with a double before Bridges singled to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch plated Braxton to make it 7-3. After Ashe singled to load the bases, Cameron Hill drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run. Chris Marcellus followed with an RBI walk before Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, cutting the deficit to 7-6.
Grambling State, however, could not complete the comeback as Pablo Torres retired the Tigers in order in the ninth inning to secure the save.
Bridges led Grambling State 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 a pair of hits.
Trevor Esparza (4-3) took the loss on the mound after allowing six runs in three innings of work. Rafael Capistran and Payton Allen combined to hold Bethune-Cookman scoreless over the final five innings.
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