Box Score It took extra innings, but Grambling State University plugged away and pulled off a win over Texas Southern University.
With the bases loaded at the bottom of the 10th inning, Wesley Drain banged a pitch into the infield bringing home Allen Mays for the winning run, making it a 5-4 victory.
Texas Southern (7-13, 3-5 SWAC) erased an early 4-2 led in a bizarre eighth inning that included three pitching changes for the GSU Tigers (6-11, 4-1 SWAC), an outfield miscommunication resulting in an error and TSU scoring two runs to tie the game.
GSU started the game with pitcher Tanner Raiburn, then Brennan Williams entered the game with Richard Alamo on first. He allowed one hit, then bulked and advanced the TSU runners. Christian Sanchez popped up a sacrifice a fly ball, bringing Alamo home. He was one of three pitchers in the eighth inning.
Marlon Pruitt subbed for Williams. Pruitt faced one batter and earned a strikeout. Creighton Hoover closed out the inning, but not before second baseman Larry Barraza and right fielder Diamyn Hall failed to communicate on a fly ball. Hall was charged with the error and TSU tied the game 4-4.
Cooper said the miscommunication sent the game into extra innings. "The miscommunication between the second baseman and right fielder, …," said Cooper. "The right fielder needs to let the second baseman catch that ball. That's his ball all the way, and that's what forced us to go into extra innings."
Grambling State won against TSU Friday, and they will go for a sweep Sunday (March 20) at 1 p.m. at Wilbert Ellis Field on GSU's campus. ?
