Bethune-Cookman Stuns No. 7 Florida, Sweeps Two Ranked SEC Foes

The SWAC Wildcats' historic week includes road wins over the reigning national champion LSU and the Gators.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:55am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in motion, with overlapping planes of bright orange, navy blue, and emerald green, conveying the energy and intensity of the Bethune-Cookman upset victories.Bethune-Cookman's historic upset victories over ranked SEC powers demonstrate the talent and competitiveness of HBCU baseball programs.Gainesville Today

Bethune-Cookman baseball pulled off a remarkable feat, defeating No. 7 Florida 13-7 on Tuesday to complete a historic week in which the SWAC Wildcats beat two ranked SEC programs on the road. Just seven days earlier, Bethune-Cookman had defeated reigning national champion No. 24 LSU in Baton Rouge.

Why it matters

Bethune-Cookman is an HBCU program competing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which has a fraction of the resources and recruiting power of SEC powerhouses like Florida. The Wildcats' back-to-back road wins over top-25 SEC teams are a stunning accomplishment that could propel the program into the national rankings.

The details

Bethune-Cookman scored seven runs in the seventh inning to turn a 6-5 game into a 13-5 lead. The Wildcats finished with 13 hits and scored in six of the nine innings. Andrey Martinez went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs, while Darryl Lee also had three hits, including a solo homer in the ninth. Jose Fernandez added a solo shot in the fourth. Anthony Anselmo (2-1) earned the win in relief, and Justin Morales closed with 2.2 scoreless innings.

  • On April 7, Bethune-Cookman defeated No. 24 LSU 6-3 in Baton Rouge.
  • On April 14, Bethune-Cookman defeated No. 7 Florida 13-7 in Gainesville.

The players

Bethune-Cookman

A Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) program that pulled off a historic week of upsets against two ranked SEC teams on the road.

Florida

The No. 7 team in Baseball America, with a 27-11 record and the nation's best 10-1 mark against Top 25 opponents heading into the game.

Andrey Martinez

The Bethune-Cookman player who went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs against Florida.

Darryl Lee

The Bethune-Cookman player who went 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs against Florida.

Jose Fernandez

The Bethune-Cookman player who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning against Florida.

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What’s next

Bethune-Cookman will look to continue its historic run when it returns to SWAC play. The Wildcats are currently 10-2 in conference and will aim to secure a high seed for the SWAC tournament.

The takeaway

Bethune-Cookman's back-to-back road wins over top-25 SEC teams are a stunning accomplishment that could propel the HBCU program into the national rankings and shine a spotlight on the talent and competitiveness of SWAC baseball.