After 11 weeks of exciting action on HBCU diamonds that featured exciting matchups and actress of stand out players and performances, we have reached the final poll rankings for 2026 and a champion will be crowned.
5. UAPB Golden Lions (24–34, 15–12) — 64 pts
After being unranked the previous week , the Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff clawed their way into the final poll rankings at No.5.
The Lions did what many did not see coming, and that was take down no.1 seed Bethune-Cookman, who had been the best team in the SWAC for most of the season. UAPB defeated BCU 6-4 in the first round and then sent Wildcats packing by handing them a 13-8 L in the elimination game.
The Lions had a pair of of all-conference performers-senior right-handed pitcher Kenney Fabian and freshman infielder Aaron Grant were both named to the All-SWAC Second Team. Fabian, who was named as a starting pitcher , led the SWAC in innings pitched with 96.1 frames of work, as well as complete games, going the distance three times. The senior allowed an opposing batting average of .260 and struck out 60 batters. Over the course of his two seasons at UAPB, Fabian stated on the bump 28 times, logging 65.2 inning and struck out 117 batters.
Aaron Grant was named to the team as a second baseman and his first season could be a signs of great things to come. The SWAC Freshman of the Year , in 49 games recorded hitting splits of 376/.453/.613. Hid 9 dingers ranked 10th in the conference, while he was also 5th in RBI with 56.
4. Southern Jaguars (29–23, 20–7) — 70 pts
The Southern Jaguars took a bit of a tumble down the rankings, falling to No.4 from their No.2 of the previous week.
The Jaguars were snakebitten twice in the SWAC Baseball Tournament, having been defeated 15-6 by FAMU on the winner’s side of the bracket and then after beating Texas Southern in the loser’s bracket had their season ended by the Rattlers via a 5-1 loss in the elimination game.
Southern was second in the SWAC at 20-7, only outpaced by the 23-7 mark put up by Bethune-Cookman. Their 29-23 mark is an improvement of 5 wins from last season.
Infielder KJ White was named SWAC Hitter of the Year. The senior capped of a career in which he was second in the conference with a .417 average and led the league in hits with 77. White recorded 26 games of multiple hits , with a season-high coming on 4 separate occasions.
3. Florida A&M Rattlers(30–23, 22–8) — 79 pts
The Rattlers come in third in the final poll rankings, holding on to their position from the previous week.
FAMU entered the SWAC Baseball Tournament as the No.3 seed and defeated Texas Southern, and Southern twice to reach the Championship game against Alabama State. It was here the Rattlers would fall 8-6 to the Hornets.
The Rattlers ended the seasons at 30-23, their second consecutive 30-win campaign.
FAMU had a pair of players, Jackson McKenzie and Caleb Granger received postseason honors, with McKenzie named to the All-SWAC First Team as a designated hitter and Caleb Granger named to the Second Team as a starting pitcher.
Jackson McKenize gave pitchers fits this season. The Tallahassee, Florida native led the SWAC with a .417 average as well as a 1.381 OPS. McKenzie recorded 53 hits, which included 15 doubles, and 2 triples. He also bashed 10 home runs, which was tied for 4th in the conference.
Caleb Granger was a reliable arm for the Rattlers, posting a 7-4 record and appearing in 92.0 innings. Granger surrendered 110 hits and striking out 83 batters against just 24 walks.
2. Alabama State Hornets (34–21, 20–10) — 83 pts
Alabama State ends at the pentultimate positions in final rankings, moving up from the No.4 of the previous week.
The Hornets demolished Grsambling 10-0 in the opening round and then chased that with a pair of wins ( 8-7, 8-5) over UAPB. Alabama State advanced to the Championship game where they defeated No.2 seed Florida A&M 8-6 to cpature their third SWAC Championship.
The Hornets have advanced to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. They were named to the Tuscaloosa Regional, where they will meet with No.1 Alabama on Friday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m.
Outfielder Miguel Oropeza was named SWAC Newcomer of the Year after a season in which he averaged .362 with 76 hits, including 19 doubles, which was second in the SWAC. Right-handed hurler Camden Matthews was named Relief Pitcher of the Year. Matthews was third in the SWAC with a 3.49 ERA and lead the conGreenberg with 6 saves.
1. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats(38–20, 23–7) — 86 pts
The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University remain atop Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Major Division Baseball Top 5 rankings.
Although the Wildcats were the demonstrably the best team in the SWAC for a majority of the season, they suffered a shocking early ouster at the SWAC Baseball Tournament via a pair of losses to UAPB. B-CU notched several impressive wins throughout the season, including a 10-7 win over no.24 LSU on April 7 and a 13-7 win over nationally ranked Florida a week later.
The Wildcats were the recipients of 10 SWAC postseason awards. Head coach Jonathan Hernandez was named SWAC Coach of the Year. Redshirt junior catcher Jose Fernandez was named SWAC Player of the Year and Edwin Sanchez was earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Maikol Lucena, Andrey Martinez, Michael Rodriguez, along with Fernandez aand Sanchez received All-SWAC First Team honors, while Darryl Lee, Pablo Torres and Erick Almonte were named to the second team.
The Wildcats led the SWAC in hits (619), doubles ( 126), runs scored (546), home runs (59), total bases (962), slugging percentage (.475), stolen bases (155), ERA (5.22) and strikeouts (456). Their 38 wins is the fourth consecutive season of 30 or more wins.
Dropping Out:
Grambling State Tigers ( 21-32, 18-12)
Receiving Votes:
GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS-(21-32, 18-12)-61,
TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS-(21-24, 15-12)-57,
JACKSON STATE TIGERS-(26-27, 16-14)-49,
NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS-(19-28, 15-15)-47
