Collegiate baseball roars to the diamond at Toyota Field
MADISON – As March roars in like a lion with baseball fresh on its heels with the Rocket City Trash Pandas beginning their 2026 season in April, Toyota Field is being prepped to host two collegiate games showcasing some of the top talent in the state. Alabama A&M will host Jacksonville State on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:05 p.m. That game will be followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide as it hosts Austin Peay State on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets are currently on sale for both college matchups online at trashpandasbaseball. com. The contest between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks on March 18 marks the first meeting between the two in-state programs in 11 years. Jax State leads the alltime series between the two schools 11-2. The Gamecocks currently play in Conference USA while the Bulldogs continue their longtime action in the SWAC.
Alabama returns for its fourth game at Toyota Field, the most recent defeating the North Alabama Lions 4-3 a year ago. Austin Peay makes its first appearance at the local stadium and is more than capable of tangling with the SEC program out of Tuscaloosa. “We are fired up to be in Madison to take on Alabama,” said Roland Fanning, in his fourth season as the Governors’ head coach. “We are excited for our program to be at Toyota Field and we encourage the school’s supporters to come out and watch us play against an elite SEC opponent.”
“What a great atmosphere in Madison,” said Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn. “I want baseball in this state to continue to grow. It’s an opportunity for us to get to a part of the state that, outside of recruiting, we might not see as much of, and in a beautiful stadium.”
Alabama finished the 2025 season 41-18 while Austin Peay was 45-14. Jacksonville State is coming off one of the most impressive turnarounds in college baseball improving its win total by nearly 20 games in 2025 by posting a won-loss record of 37-25. The hometown Bulldogs from Alabama A&M were 10-40 a season ago, but have enormous talent on the field in their newest season.
Alabama A&M will also partake in the 2026 Global Baseball Series at Toyota Field March 30-April 1 along with U.A.H. and the Trash Pandas as each will welcome the Toyota Red Cruisers in the three-day series. The Trash Pandas open their sixth season of Double-A Southern League baseball on Friday, April 3, also at Toyota Field.
