Florida A&M baseball’s comeback efforts in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game fell two runs short.
Trailing by as much as five runs, the three-seed Rattlers (30-23) lost to the four-seed Alabama State Hornets (34-21) 8-6 on Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, May 24.
FAMU scored four runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings, but couldn’t get the needed scores to win the title in the ninth inning. Alex Monile flied out with two runners on base for the Hornets to get the third and final out and clinch the championship.
Despite the loss, the Rattlers actually outhit the Hornets 14-13. William Brown, Jay Campbell, and Jackson McKenzie led with three runs apiece.
FAMU started Caleb Granger at pitcher, as he went for five innings, allowing 11 hits, and striking out four. Tanner Walker and Cody Williams also pitched the Rattlers.
FAMU’s SWAC Championship loss was its second consecutive shortfall in the title game, following its runner-up finish to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in 2025.
The Rattlers’ late-season run was impressive and extended into the postseason. They won nine straight games before losing to Bama State.
FAMU had four named to the All-SWAC Tournament team: Campbell, McKenzie, Monile, and Jesus Campa. Granger and McKenzie also earned All-SWAC honors after the regular season.
The Rattlers won’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Bama State will have the SWAC’s automatic bid to the national tournament.
FAMU baseball vs Alabama State SWAC championship scoreboard
FAMU baseball has life: Narrowly trails heading into final inning of SWAC Championship
FAMU has plans for a comeback.
The Rattlers exploded at the bottom of the eighth inning, putting up three runs to move the score to 8-6 entering the ninth inning of the SWAC Championship game.
Jordan Brown singled and advanced to third on a throwing error. Josue Figueroa scored on the error, unearned, and Alex Monile also scored on the error. William Brown then hit a sacrifice fly to score Brown before the Rattlers were retired.
Cody Williams in to pitch for FAMU baseball
Cody Williams has relieved Tanner Walker on the mound.
Walker pitched two innings and faced 10 batters. He allowed two hits and struck out one Alabama State batter.
FAMU baseball looks to go on a run, but can’t get momentum
The Rattlers were looking to make a surge at the Alabama State Hornets.
William Brown scored on an RBI single by Jay Campbell to give the Rattlers their third run of the night.
Then Jackson McKenzie fell just short of a home run, which turned into a double. However, the play ended as Campbell charged to home plate but was tagged by the Alabama State catcher after a precise pass from the second baseman.
B7 | ASU 8, FAMU 3
FAMU baseball and Alabama State return to action
Short rain delay.
FAMU and Alabama State hit the field after a 10-minute weather-impacted delay.
FAMU baseball vs Alabama State in weather delay
Action is paused in Birmingham.
Rainfall during the FAMU-Alabama State SWAC championship game caused a weather delay at Rickwood Field.
The tarp has been pulled over the field.
Alabama State’s Trey Callaway hits 3 RBI bomb to extend lead over FAMU baseball
As FAMU inched closer, Trey Callaway made sure the Hornets got extra breathing room.
The slugger hit a three RBI homerun to right center, scoring himself, Niguel Jenkins, and Michael Oropeza.
FAMU now trails by six runs, 8-2, as it takes over at bat at the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Rattlers trail 8-2 at the bottom of the sixth inning.
FAMU baseball makes a pitching change
Caleb Granger is done for the day after spending five innings on the mound.
He faced 28 batters, struck out four, allowed 11 hits, and hit two batters with pitches. Granger’s pitch count 83.
Relief pitcher Tanner Walker has checked in for the Rattlers. Alabama State also swapped out pitcher Jorhan Laboy for James Peterson.
T6 | ASU 5, FAMU 2
FAMU baseball vs Alabama State box score through five innings
FAMU
Alabama State
FAMU baseball’s Matthew Perez scores on an RBI
A Josue Figueroa RBI double trimmed FAMU’s deficit to three.
He battled in a score by runner Matthew Perez for the score to be moved to 5-2 with Alabama State leading the way at the bottom of the fourth inning.
FAMU baseball falls behind Alabama State by decent margin
The Rattlers need to make a run ― literally and figuratively.
FAMU allowed three runs at the top of the fourth inning. Alabama State accumulated four hits, challenging Cale Granger, one of the SWAC’s top pitchers.
T4 | ASU 5, FAMU 1
Alabama State ahead of FAMU baseball 2-1 entering the fourth inning
Alabama State scored in the third inning after Miguel Oropeza singled to leftfield and earned an RBI after Devin Chandler scored.
FAMU baseball ties it up against Alabama State
Jackson McKenzie responded to the Hornets with an RBI double for the Rattlers. He doubled to right-center, and the force of his hit caused the baseball to ricochet off the back wall of the stadium.
Jay Campbell scored for FAMU. Campbell also tripled during the inning.
B1 | FAMU 1, ASU 1
Alabama State stings FAMU baseball first in SWAC Championship game
The Hornets scored first at the top of the first inning.
Niguel Jenkins singled to left field off Caleb Granger’s pitch, which advanced Miguel Oropeza to second while Breydon Divine scored the game’s initial run.
T1 | ASU 1, FAMU 0
SWAC Tournament game underway after delays!
After a nearly four-hour rain delay, FAMU and Alabama State are finally about to take the field.
Players are on Rickwood Field warming up. Caleb Granger is starting at pitcher for the Rattlers.
SWAC championship game delayed
Due to rain in Birmingham, the SWAC title game has been moved multiple times from its initial 2 p.m. start time. FAMU and Alabama State now hope to play the championship game during the 6 p.m. hour.
FAMU baseball vs Alabama State scores this season
Florida A&M vs Alabama State ― SWAC Baseball Tournament Championship
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU baseball’s comeback falls short to Alabama State in SWAC Championship
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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