PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | The Grambling State University baseball team held an eight-run lead through two and a half innings, but could not hold on as Prairie View A&M rallied for an 18-15 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Sunday at Tankersley Field.
 
Grambling State (7-8 overall, 4-2 SWAC) took the first two games of the series and was seeking its first SWAC three-game sweep since 2017. However, Prairie View A&M (4-11, 3-3) had other ideas in salvaging the series finale.
 
How It Happened
Prairie View A&M opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, but Grambling State answered and struck for six runs on five hits to grab a 6-1 lead.
 
Richard Ortiz began the frame with a base hit to left center and advanced to third on a Michael Sookdeo single. Ace Felder followed with a single to right center to score Ortiz. Drexler Macaay singled to left as Felder moved to third and Sookdeo scored. Felder scored on a wild pitch as Macaay stopped at second. With two, Kevin Whitaker, Jr. walked and Ian Bailey followed with a three-run homer to left, giving the Tigers the 6-1 advantage.
 
Grambling State added to the lead in the top of the third.
 
Rafael Ramirez III walked to begin the frame and advanced to second when Sookdeo reached on an error. Felder moved the runners up on a sacrifice and Macaay followed with a base hit to center to score Ramirez. Kristian Franklin tripled as Sookdeo and Macaay scored as he was tagged out trying to score as the Tigers increased the lead to 9-1.
 
The Panthers responded with three runs in the bottom half of the third to cut the deficit to 9-4.
 
Grambling State got a run back in the fourth as Macaay reached on a fielder's choice as Ramirez came across to score, giving the Tigers a 10-4 lead.
 
GSU continued to put runs on the board as the Tigers added three runs on two hits and took advantage of one error in the fifth to stretch the lead to 13-4.
 
Whitaker began the frame with a single to right and advanced to second when Bailey reached on an error. Ortiz walked and Whitaker scored on a passed ball. Ramirez walked to the load the base. After a pitching change, Sookdeo flied out to center for the sacrifice and Felder brought Ortiz in to score on an infield hit.
 
Back came Prairie View A&M in the bottom of the inning with four runs and took the lead with seven runs on three errors and took advantage of a pair of Tiger errors to grab a 15-13 advantage.
 
The Panthers added two more runs in the seventh and took a 17-13 lead into the eighth.
 
Grambling State cut into the PVAMU lead in the eighth with one run, but the damage of the seven-run sixth was the difference as the Tigers dropped their second conference game.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 15 runs on 15 hits, committed five errors and left 15 on base
> Ace Felder led the way at the plate for the Tigers by going 3-for-3, with two RBIs and one run scored
> Drexler Macaay was 2-for-5, with three runs batted in and two runs scored, while Ian Bailey went 2-for-5, with three RBIs and three runs scored
> Kevin Whitaker, Jr., Isaiah Torres, Richard Ortiz, Trevin Bolden, Rafael Ramirez III, Michael Sookdeo, Warren Laster and Kristian Franklin each collected one hit
> Ryan Huntington started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched 5.0 innings. He surrendered eight runs on 10 hits, with two walks and one strikeout
> JC Bonilla, Kaelin Woodard (0-1) and D'Quan Matthews worked in relief
> Prairie View A&M finished with 18 runs on 18 hits, committed six errors and stranded eight on base
> Alex Martinez, Dalton Horner and Calvin Rucker each collected three hits for the Panthers
> K. Smith started and gave up 13 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits, with five strikeouts and five walks
> Brian Williams and Cameron Cooper (1-0) combined for 4.2 innings of relief
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Wednesday, with a trip to Mississippi State. First pitch from Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium in Starkville, Miss. is set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on the SEC Network+.
 
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