TSU nets second SWAC crown in 3 seasons

NEW ORLEANS — Gerrek Jimenez hit a tiebreaking RBI single with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, and Texas Southern added a run before holding on to defeat Alabama State 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game and earn the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers (20-32) knocked off the defending SWAC champion en route to completing a perfect run in the conference tournament for their second title in three seasons.

Jimenez, who entered the game in the 12th as a defensive replacement at second base, had the game-winning hit in his only at-bat of the game and second of the conference tournament.

Freshman Michael Villanueva pitched six shutout innings of relief to pick up his team-leading eighth win of the season. The Baytown native struck out three batters and allowed two hits and two walks.

Alabama State (31-25) was attempting to become the first back-to-back SWAC champion since Jackson State pulled off the feat from 2013-14.

TEXAS 9, WEST VIRGINIA 4

Kacy Clemens hit a first-inning grand slam, Zane Gurwitz went 2-for4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored, and the Longhorns defeated the Mountaineers in the teams’ regular-season finale at Austin to win the series, two games to one.

Kyle Johnston allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings to improve to 3-1 for Texas (34-20, 11-12 Big 12).

SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT

McNeese State will open as the top seed when the double-elimination Southland Conference tournament starts Wednesday at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

McNeese State will meet No. 8 seed Lamar at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Defending tournament champion and No. 3 seed Sam Houston State will face sixth-seeded Stephen F. Austin at 9 a.m.

Second-seeded Southeastern Louisiana opens against No. 7 seed New Orleans at noon, and fourth-seeded Houston Baptist faces No. 5 seed Central Arkansas at 7 p.m.