The Grambling State University Tigers lost a tough duel in 10 innings to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-3 Friday night in a weekend series that determines the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western division crown and which teams gets the No. 1seed in the end-of-season SWAC tournament later this month.

Despite the close home loss, Grambling State (22-21, 15-6 SWAC) was a stout matchup for the visiting Golden Panthers at Wilbert Ellis Field, where the team has won an impressive 11 of 14 home games.

UAPB (18-22, 14-5 SWAC) handed GSU its first Friday night home loss and its first Friday night conference loss of the season. Before last night's game, the Tigers were 10-0 versus conference foes at home and 3-0 in Friday games at home.

"We have to swing the bats better when we have runners on base," said GSU Coach James Cooper. "We had our chance to win the game in the bottom of the eighth and ninth. We just didn't get the runners on like we needed too.  We didn't drive in runs. We didn't put good swings on good pitches. We swung the bats decent, but not decent enough when we had runners on base." 

Issac O'Bear (7-2) pitched nine innings for Grambling State, getting a no-decision for the second consecutive week. He finished with three strikeouts and three earned runs before Creighton Hoover (6-3) entered in the 10th inning with the game tied 3-3. Hoover got the loss, allowing one earned run.

Marlon Pruitt (1-1) closed the tenth inning for Grambling State, he faced one batter. 

UAPB struck first with an Aderly Perez two-RBI single to center field, setting up a Jordan Knox double to short middle and UAPB rolled to a quick 2-0 first inning lead.

Second baseman Larry Barraza, the SWAC player of the week for May 2-7, cranked a pitch for a double scoring Wesley Drain. First baseman Tray Bell got a hit that dropped in front of the left fielder for a two-run single, Barnett and Barraza crossed home, giving Grambling State the 3-2 lead. Perez went 3-for-5 to tie the game in the eighth with a home run. He has three home runs on the season.

O'Bear ended the eighth inning with a nasty strikeout. In the ninth inning, Grambling State gathered at the mound with two outs and a runner on second base. Barraza and Bell closed the inning with a put out.

"I told my guys we're a pitch away from being out of the inning," said Cooper. "They had a situation where they had runners on and we were fortunate enough to get the play and get out of that inning."

In the bottom of the ninth DH Ace Felder reached first on a walk. Barraza smoked a pitch to centerfield and Felder displayed his speed getting to third base. With the bases loaded and two outs, centerfielder Angel Peguero stepped to the plate. He watched three balls go by before he picking up his first strike. He walked and Grambling State left three runners on base to conclude the ninth.  Grambling State went three up and three down to end the tenth inning. ?

The series will continue Saturday for Game 2 at 3 p.m. at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park on the GSU campus.