The Grambling State University baseball team got back on the winning track on Sunday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader versus Alabama State at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
The Tigers dropped a 10 inning affair in game one, 15-9, but battled back in game two, cruising to a 19-8 triumph.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
- After Alabama State grabbed a 2-0 lead, Trevor Hatton stroked a double to right field, advancing to third on a throwing error. Julian Murphy hit a ground ball to shortstop, scoring Hatton.
- Cameron Bufford smoked a solo home run to left field, tying the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth.
- ASU’s Corey King put the Hornets back in front with a three-run homer in the sixth inning. Alabama State led 6-2 heading the bottom of the frame.
- In the Tigers’ half of the inning, Jarficur Parker picked up a RBI after laying down a sacrifice bunt that scored Lamarcus Jones to make the score 6-3.
- Trailing 7-3, Grambling State utilized a five-run seventh to snag an 8-7 lead, its first of the game. Jones highlighted the inning with a three-run homer.
- The Hornets regained the lead, 9-8, in the eighth, but the Tigers battled back once again in the ninth, forcing extra innings thanks to an RBI single from Shemar Page.
- However, Alabama State scored six runs in the top of the 10th, holding GSU off in the bottom of the inning to secure victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State registered nine hits
- Alabama State tallied 12 hits
- GSU committed one error
- ASU made two errors
- The Hornets stranded 13 runners
- The tigers left seven runners on base
- Shemar Page went 2-for-5 with two RBI
- Lamarcus Jones drove in three runs, going 1-for-3 with a three-run homer
- Cameron Bufford went 1-for-4 with a home run
- Heath Backhus (0-1) was charged with the loss, surrendering one unearned run on no hits and one walk.
- Jacorey Boudreaux got the start for the tigers, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits, with six strikeouts and eight walks.
- Luis Rodriguez (1-0) earned the win in relief for Alabama State, working 1.2 innings, giving up no runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
- In the second game, Grambling State put on an offensive clinic, scoring 19 runs on 18 hits in six innings.
- The fireworks began in the bottom of the first inning. After snagging a 2-1 lead, GSU’s Keylon Mack stroked a two-RBI single to right field putting the Tigers up 4-1. Alabama State answered with a four-run second inning, retaking the lead, 5-4.
- A pair doubles from Shemar Page and Trevor Hatton resulted in three runs, giving the Tigers a 7-5 lead after two innings
- GSU put up another four spot in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Lamarcus Jones. Another two-RBI double by Page gave the Tigers a conformable 11-5 advantage.
- Grambling State scored nine runs over the final three innings, invoking the 10-run mercy rule, ending the game at 19-8 in favor of the Tigers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- GSU racked up up 18 hits
- ASU tallied eight hits
- The Tigers overcame six errors
- The Hornets committed three errors
- Grambling State hitters combined for seven doubles
- Shemar Page went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI
- Lamarcus Jones went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI
- Julian Murphy also notched three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBI
- Connor Rudy (2-3) earned the win, working four full innings, allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
- Kevin Matos (0-1) was saddled with the loss, tossing 1.1 innings in relief, giving up three runs on four hits to go with one strikeout and one walk.
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