GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University baseball team opened a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series against rivals Southern University with a 10-6 victory, as the Tigers belted three home runs on Friday afternoon at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
 
The Jaguars (5-11 overall, 2-4 SWAC) began the game with one run in the top of the first, but the Tigers (11-8, 5-2) answered with a three-run second inning.
 
Isaiah Torres walked to start the inning and scored by Ramirez belted a two-run shot to right center. Cameron Shannon singled to right field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Trevin Bolden. Kristian Franklin reached on a fielder's choice as Shannon advanced to third and came in to score on a throwing error.
 
Grambling State plated one run in the third, one in the fourth and one in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead into the seventh.
 
Southern tied the game in the top of the seventh with three runs, but Grambling State responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 10-6 advantage.
 
Garrett Smith walked to begin the frame and advanced to second when Marshawn Taylor reached on bunt single. Richard Ortiz advanced the runners a base on a sacrifice bunt. With one down, Nick Wheeler and Ramirez hit back-to-back homers to give the Tigers a commanding 10-6 lead.
 
Inside The Numbers
* Grambling State scored 10 runs on 12 hits, committed three errors and left eight on base.
* Rafael Ramirez went 3-for-5, with four RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Grambling State offense.
* Marshawn Taylor and Trevin Bolden registered two hits apiece.
* Richard Ortiz, Isaiah Torres, Nick Wheeler, Cameron Shannon and Kristian Franklin each recorded one hit.
* Raul Baduel worked six innings and was tagged for three runs on three hits and walked one.
* Ryan Evans (2-0) worked in relief and picked up the victory in three solid innings of work. He fanned three and walked two.
* Southern finished with six runs on five hits and left six on base.
* Franky Montesino, Malik Blaise, Zavier Moore, Bobby Johnson and Tristian Rojas each had one hit for the Jaguars.
* John Guienze took the loss as he was tagged for five earned runs on five hits, with one walk and no strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.
 
Up Next
Grambling State will take on Southern in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch from Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park is set for 1 p.m.
 
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