MONROE, La. | The Grambling State University baseball team jumped out to an early lead, but it was short lived as Louisiana-Monore used a seven-run first inning to pick up a 16-2 victory on Tuesday night at Warhawk Field.
Grambling State (22-20) struck first in the opening inning as
Ace Felder led off the game with a base hit up the middle and
Marshawn Taylor followed with a single to center to move Felder to third.
Richard Ortiz bounced into a double play as Felder scored to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Louisiana-Monroe (19-25) answered and used a seven-run inning, highlighted by back-to-back homers by Chad Bell and Brendan Jordan, to grab a 7-1 advantage.
The Warhawks, who avenged a loss to the Tigers two weeks ago, added to the lead with a solo homer by Peyton Lacoste to push the margin to 8-1 in the second.
Grambling State battled back in the top of the third with two outs as Felder singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Taylor followed with a base hit to center as Felder came around to score, cutting the gap to 8-2.
The Warhawks quickly answered with a five-run third and extended the lead to 13-2.
Louisiana-Monroe put the game away in the sixth with a three-run sixth to push the margin to 16-2.
Inside the Numbers
* Grambling State tallied two runs on seven hits and left six on base.
*
Ace Felder (two runs scored) and
Marshawn Taylor (one RBI) each recorded two hits to lead the Tiger offense.
*
Isaiah Torres,
Trevin Bolden and
D'Quan Matthews registered one hit apiece.
*
Anthony Hernandez (1-4) started on the hill for the Tigers and took the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits, with two walks and one strikeout in 0.2 innings of work.
*
Elijah Saunders,
Ryan Huntington,
Kerry Boykins, Jr.,
Kaelin Woodard and
Ryan Evans pitched in relief.
* Louisiana-Monroe finished with 16 runs on 17 hits and stranded 10 baserunners.
* Johnny DeLaCruz led the Warhawks at the plate by going 4-for-5, with two doubles and three runs scored.
* Will Daniels went 2-for-5, with a team-high three RBIs and one run scored.
* Cole Trichel (1-2) earned the victory as he gave up two runs on five hits, with three strikeouts and one walk.
* Robert Foust, Cole Hendrix, Kyle Backofen and Cade Harper pitched in relief.
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action for a big Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series in Houston, Texas this weekend to take on Texas Southern.
The two teams met earlier this season, with Grambling State taking two-of-three from Texas Southern.
Texas Southern currently holds a three-game in the SWAC West standings. Should Grambling State sweep TSU, GSU would win the SWAC West Division championship.
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