Texas Southern defeated Jackson State on an epic walk-off play at the plate to keep its college baseball season alive during the SWAC Tournament. The Tigers showed the utmost class in victory.
Junior outfielder Marco Mueses did not celebrate with his teammates until he had expressed his appreciation toward his opponent.
In an era of college baseball that is often defined by bat flips and competitive trash talk, this brief moment of sportsmanship is what it’s all about. There is a mutual respect for the sport.
Texas Southern beat Jackson State at Rickwood Field.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference plays its college baseball tournament at Rickwood Field in Alabama. It was built for the Birmingham Barons in 1910 as the oldest existing professional baseball stadium in the United States.
For the premier HBCU conference to play its college baseball tournament at a field that had such deep ties to the Negro leagues from 1920 to 1960 is pretty special. But that is not the point of this article.
No. 6 seed Texas Southern played No. 7 seed Jackson State on the second day of the eight-team, dual-bracket, double-elimination bracket. It was an elimination game. Winner moves on. Loser goes home.
Jackson State jumped out to a 7-1 lead after five innings. Texas Southern battled back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and ultimately tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.
- Fly out
- Single
- Single, runner moves to second
- Single, RBI (tie game 7-7), runner moves to second
The No. 6 seed had runners on first and second base with one out. Cristopher Chavez singled to left center. Texas Southern decided to send its runner around third. He beat the tag on an exhilarating play at the plate to win the elimination game in walk-off fashion.
Most of the team ran onto the field to celebrated with Chavez. One player did not.
Marco Mueses showed true college baseball sportsmanship.
Jackson State’s left fielder made an incredible throw down to the plate on the last play of the game. He got caught in the corner and had to put his entire body behind the throw to even have a chance.
It was an amazing effort. The catcher was able to catch the ball and make the tag in one fluid motion but he dropped the ball from his glove so the runner was ruled safe and the game-winning run scored.
That was not possible without the laser from left field.
Marco Mueses recognized just how close of a play( and game) it was. The Texas Southern junior did not join his teammates in their initial celebration. He went out of his way to show love to his opponents and made a point to show the left fielder the respect he deserved. He gave him a handshake and a hug.
Elimination game walk off. Lost in the chaos is TX Southern player showing love to the Jax State LF who made a terrific throw. Runner just beat the tag. #SWAC https://t.co/WAzKoJQAoR pic.twitter.com/zhmnw0LM2r
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) May 22, 2026
In a world that often revolves around clout and overblown behavior for celebration, Mueses is a great example of sportsmanship. He could’ve run off to celebrate the walk-off win with his teammates and nobody would’ve thought twice. Instead, he made a conscious effort to express his admiration for a hard-fought game against worth opponents. We need more of this in college sports, and in general.