NEW ORLEANS — It was deja vu for the Grambling State Tigers. A four-run third inning deficit shortened to one, but a Southern University Jaguar two-run seventh inning lifted the Jaguars past GSU 6-3.

With the loss, the Tigers were eliminated from the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament in the second round.

Grambling State (22-27, 15-12 SWAC) went to the seniors with the game on the line. Senior pitcher Creighton Hoover checked in to the contest in the eighth inning, facing Southern's Phillip Williams. Williams grounded out to senior second baseman Larry Barraza and first baseman Tray Bell.

With the game hanging in the balance in the top of the ninth inning, Grambling State coach James Cooper had senior first basemen Robert Lopez and senior outfielder Darien Brown pinch-hit.

Senior center fielder Angel Peguero went 1-for-3, and walked. Barraza had four quality at-bats.

It was not the result the Tigers wanted, but Cooper said he had to go with his seniors to try to win the game.

"We tell our seniors, it's their team," he said after the game. "They're the guys to keep everybody in check, and in order.

"You want to give them a chance to go out there and get the job done."

It was the last GSU baseball game for the 2015-16 season.