BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball championship continues Wednesday with a matchup between seed Texas Southern and seed Florida A&M at Regions Field. First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The Rattlers (27-22) won all three games of a regular-season series against the Tigers (18-21) last week in Tallahassee, Florida, including a 9-8, 16-inning marathon Saturday. Florida A&M will look to carry that momentum into the neutral-site tournament.

Two-way standout Caden Kresak is a key player for Florida A&M. In that 16-inning win Saturday, Kresak went 2 for 7 at the plate with an RBI, then pitched three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three. Over the three-game sweep, he went 6 for 14 with two RBIs while also working 3.0 scoreless innings. His versatility gives the Rattlers a reliable option both at the plate and on the mound. First baseman Jackson McKenzie drove in four runs Saturday and is another dangerous bat in the lineup.

Texas Southern will counter with right-hander Demarques Thompson, who delivered a stellar start in the series opener despite taking a no-decision. Thompson threw 7.2 innings, allowing zero hits and one earned run while striking out three. However, his season has been inconsistent: In his previous four outings, he allowed a combined eight earned runs in 3.0 innings. If Thompson can recapture his sharp command, he gives the Tigers a chance against a potent Rattlers offense.

The Tigers need a strong performance from their bullpen after the staff allowed 26 runs in the three-game set. Center fielder Shaun Williams provided a bright spot Saturday with three hits and five RBIs.

Florida A&M enters the tournament winner of four of its last five games, while Texas Southern has lost five straight. The Rattlers’ lineup has produced consistently, averaging nearly eight runs per game over the past week.

Wednesday’s game is the first of potentially several in the double-elimination bracket. The winner advances in the winners’ bracket; the loser falls into the elimination side. Both teams are familiar with each other after last week’s tightly contested series. The Tigers pushed the Rattlers to extra innings Saturday, showing they can compete despite the lopsided final scores in the other two games. Florida A&M will rely on its depth and recent success against Texas Southern to take control early.