NEW ORLEANS, La. | Garrett Smith belted his first homer of the season and the Grambling State University baseball team picked up a 14-5 victory against Mississippi Valley State in the first game of the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
 
The Tigers (24-24), the No. 2 seed from the West Division, advanced to tomorrow's winner's bracket matchup Alabama State, the No. 1 seed from the East Division at 6 p.m. The Hornets defeated Prairie View A&M, the No. 4 seed from the West Division, 7-2, in the final game on Wednesday night. The Delta Devils (11-34), the No. 3 seed from the East Division, fell into the elimination bracket and will meet Prairie View A&M at noon.
 
Mississippi Valley State struck first in the top of the opening inning with one run, but Grambling State answered with one run in the bottom of the frame as Taylor singled to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Drexler Macaay. Taylor advanced to third and went home on a wild pitch, tying the game at 1.
 
Grambling State took a 3-1 advantage in the second as Smith led off the second inning with a solo homer and the Tigers plated another run, but Mississippi Valley State tied the game in the top half of the third when Aaron Barkley belted a two-run homer.
 
However, the Tigers quickly answered and plated a run in the third to take a 4-3 lead.
 
Grambling State capitalized on an error in the sixth inning to pick up three runs and extended the advantage to 7-3.
 
Bo Fletcher walked and advanced to second as Taylor singled through the right side. Maccay singled to load the bases. Isaiah Torres followed with a base hit through the right side as Taylor and Fletcher came in to score, while Macaay proceeded to third and scored on a throwing error.
 
The Delta Devils cut the deficit with a two-run homer by Quavante McGregory in top of seventh to trail 7-5, but the Tigers plated seven runs over the final two innings to run away with a 14-5 victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
* Grambling State scored 14 runs on 15 hits, committed two errors and left 12 on base.
* Bo Fletcher led the Tigers at the plate by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
* Marshawn Taylor went 3-for-5, with three runs scored and one RBI.
* Garrett Smith registered two hits and belted his first homer of the season.
* Drexler Macaay, Rafael Ramirez III, Trevin Bolden, Isaiah Torres, Richard Ortiz, Ace Felder and D'Quan Matthews each had one hit.
* Andy Escando (2-4) picked up the victory as he surrendered five runs (three earned) on five hits, with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings of work.
* Ryan Evans and Kerry Boykins, Jr. pitched in relief.
* Mississippi Valley State recorded five runs on six hits, committed two errors and stranded four baserunners.
*Jeremiah Barr and Aaron Barkley went 2-for-4.
* Dustin Stewart started on the hill for the Delta Devils and took the loss with four innings pitched. He gave up seven runs on eight hits, fanned three and walked three.
* Jeremiah Barr and Brandon Hawkins worked in relief.
 
News and Notes
* Grambling State picked up their first tournament win since 2015 when GSU defeated Texas Southern (6-0).
* The Tigers last met the Delta Devils in the 2011 SWAC Baseball Tournament where Grambling State blanked Mississippi Valley State, 4-0, in Shreveport, La.
* Grambling State placed six members on the All-SWAC Teams as Marshawn Taylor, Richard Ortiz and Isaiah Torres earned first-team honors, while Rafael Ramirez, Raul Baduel and Daniel Beizer were named to the second team.
* GSU has dropped its last six SWAC Tourney games, dating back to the 2015 season.
* This year's championship will be televised live on ESPNEWS with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The winner of the tournament will receive the SWAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
 
Up Next
Grambling State continues play in the 2018 SWAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday against Alabama State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
 
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