Grambling State Stays Alive In SWAC Tourney After Two Dominant Wins On Friday

Trey Bridges blasted a homerun for Grambling State, while Chenar Brown led the team with two hits.

The win sets up a rematch on Saturday between GSU and FAMU, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats survived a relentless Alabama State squad that sent the game into a tenth inning before BCU pulled out an 8-7 victory. They await the winners of the FAMU-GSU contest at the SWAC Baseball Tournament Championship Game on Sunday, May 26, 2025.

During this year's tournament, the Tigers have produced 46 runs (13+4+16+13), clearly outpacing the field. Tomorrow's elimination game will be the third time Grambling State and Florida A&M have met in the 2025 SWAC Tourney.

The Rattlers beat GSU 14-4 on Thursday afternoon after scoring two runs in the first inning, two in the fourth, five in the eighth, and three in the 9th. Ever since being dominated by FAMU, Coach Davin Pierre has the Tigers rolling with solid pitching, fielding, and, most importantly, hitting.

Grambling notched 10 hits, scoring 16 runs versus Southern. Against FAMU, the Tigers pounded the pitchers with 14 hits, resulting in 13 runs.

Both teams will live and play another day with everything on the line in Saturday's showdown.

2025 HONORS

• SWAC Baseball Player of the Year: Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
• SWAC Coach of the Year: Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Co-Hitter of the Year: Andry Martinex, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Co-Hitter of the Year: Juan Cruz, Alabama State
• SWAC Pitcher of the Year: Eric Elliott, Jackson State
• SWAC Relief Pitcher of the Year: Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Freshman of the Year: Garrett Workman, Florida A&M
• SWAC Newcomer of the Year: Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern

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Eddie Kelley, SWAC Coordinator Of Football Officials Passes

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has announced the passing of Eddie Kelley, who served as the Coordinator of Football Officials.

"The Southwestern Athletic Conference would like to send thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences to the family and friends of SWAC Coordinator of Football Officials Eddie Kelley. Kelley was a valued member of the SWAC Staff, and the impact he had on the conference as an official and administrator, along with the countless number of lives he touched, will forever be remembered."

Kelley was a head referee for ten years before being promoted to the SWAC Football Coordinator of Officials on Feb. 15, 2019.  According to the conference, he "also served as an official with the Southland (2012) and the PAC-12 (2017)."  

Upon officially joining the SWAC staff, Kelley said, "It is truly an honor to get opportunity to work with the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the Football Coordinator of Officials. The legacies and great traditions of this conference as it relates to competition in the sport of football is remarkable. I look forward to serving the league with honor and integrity while putting an exemplary product of officials on the field each date of competition."

Notable Assignments and Posts

Kelley officiated the following contests:

• SWAC Championship Games
• Bayou Classics
• 2016 6A Texas High School State Championship

He also served as the President of the SWAC Football Officiating Association.

Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland and the Southwestern Athletic Conference headquarters will provide additional details about Eddie Kelley's life. His family has our deepest condolences and prayers.

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