While traveling to face Savannah State University May 5, the Jackson State University baseball team's bus caught on fire. Thankfully, none of the players, coaches or other team personnel were injured, but most of the team's equipment burned in the fire.
One of the major themes in sports is overcoming adversity, and in the aftermath of the fire, with the SWAC Baseball Tournament looming on the horizon, the Tigers faced plenty of adversity.
Jackson State baseball coach Omar Johnson has been able to keep the defending SWAC Baseball Tournament Champions focused during a trying time. Johnson is in his eighth season as the Tigers head coach and has brought six 30-win seasons during his time with the team. Heading into this season's SWAC Tournament, the Tigers were just under the 30-win mark.
Jackson State played some nearly flawless baseball at the tournament, which took place at MBL Youth Academy at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans. The Tigers defeated one of the top two seeds, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 7-1 to kick off their tournament run. The next day, the Tigers beat Alabama A&M 12-3 to take control of their side of the bracket.
Day three of the SWAC Tournament saw JSU beat Prairie View A&M 8-4 to earn a spot in the championship game. Jackson State won the SWAC Baseball Tournament with a 9-8 win over Alabama State and earned the conference's automatic bid into NCAA Baseball Tournament.
Johnson earned about another 30-win season with Saturday's victories, putting the Tigers at 31-23. Coach Johnson has ranked up a 268-171 overall record at Jackson State.
Jackson State now waits for the NCAA baseball selection show on ESPNU, which will take place May 26 at 11 a.m., to find out where and whom they are going to play. The Tigers will most likely be the fourth seed in a four-team regional.
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