LORMAN, Miss. | Rafael Ramirez, III, drove in six runs and hit a pair of home runs, including a grand slam to highlight a 10-run sixth inning, as the Grambling State University baseball team rolled past Alcorn State, 15-2, on Tuesday night at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
Alcorn State (10-30) plated one run in the bottom of the first inning and another run in the third to grab a 2-0 lead.
Grambling State (22-19) cut the deficit in half as Ramirez belted a solo shot in the fourth inning.
The Tigers, who won all four games against the Braves this season, blew the game wide open in the top of the sixth with 10 runs on five hits and took advantage of four walks to take a 11-2 lead.
Marshawn Taylor was hit by a pitch to begin the frame and came home to score the tying run on a double by
Richard Ortiz. Ramirez followed with a single to left center to plate Ortiz and with one out,
Drexler Macaay walked.
Garrett Smith singled to right to load the bases.
Bo Fletcher, who played for the Braves last season, walked to score Ramirez from third.
Phil Adams, Jr. came to the plate and singled to right to score Macaay.
Ace Felder followed with a walk to score Smith. After a Taylor strikeout, Ortiz walked to plate Fletcher. That set the stage for Ramirez, who belted a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall to give him his 14th homer of the season and his second grand slam in five days.
The Tigers extended the advantage in seventh with four runs on three hits and took advantage of one error.
Smith walked with one out and stole second and advanced to third on an error. Fletcher drew a walk and stole second. With two down, Felder reached on an infield hit as Smith scored from third. A balk scored Fletcher from third as Felder moved to second. Taylor followed with a base hit up the middle to plate Felder. After back-to-back walks to Ortiz and Ramirez,
Isaiah Torres singled to score Taylor as Grambling State pushed the lead to 15-2.
Inside the Numbers
* Grambling State picked up 15 runs on nine hits, committed one error and left six on base.
* Rafael Ramirez went 3-for-3, with six RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Tiger offense.
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Ace Felder (two RBIs),
Richard Ortiz (two RBIs),
Marshawn Taylor,
Isaiah Torres,
Garrett Smith and Phil Adams each recorded one hit.
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Elijah Saunders started on the hill for the Tigers and gave up two runs on two hits, with a pair of walks in three innings.
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Ryan Huntington (2-1) came on in relief and pitched four innings to pick up the win. He surrendered just one hit and fanned a career and season-high 10 batters.
* Alcorn State tallied two runs on three hits, committed one error and stranded four baserunners.
* Der'Vincent Hamilton went 2-for-3, with a pair of runs batted in, to lead the Braves at the plate.
* Tyler Smith pitched four innings and gave up one run (Ramirez solo homer) on one hit, fanned four and walked a pair in getting a no decision.
* Brandon Thomas took the loss as he was tagged for eight runs on four hits, with four walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
* Joe Smith pitched 1.2 innings in relief and gave up six runs on four hits, walked five and fanned three.
Up Next
Grambling State takes six days off before visiting Monroe, La. to take on the University of Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday, May 1. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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