PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | Bryan Delgado fanned eight in seven innings and the Grambling State University baseball team used a seven-run sixth inning to defeat Prairie View A&M, 9-1, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series opener on Friday at Tankersley Field.
Grambling State (6-7 overall, 3-1 SWAC) took the series opener and nearly earned its first shutout victory since April 25, 2016 (Texas College – 17-0).
How It Happened
After four scoreless innings to begin the game, Grambling State broke the 0-0 tie in the fifth.
With one down in the frame,
Kevin Whitaker, Jr. walked and scored on an
Ian Bailey double down the left field line. After
Isaiah Torres struck out,
Richard Ortiz doubled to left, scoring Bailey from second to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Grambling State extended the advantage to 9-0 with seven runs in the half of the sixth.
Garrett Smith opened the frame with a base hit to right and moved to third on a
Jahmoi Percival double to right. With two out, Whitaker walked to load the bases. Bailey followed with a bases clearing double to right center. Torres, Ortiz and Rafael Ramirez III drew back-to-back-to-back walks as Bailey scored from third. Smith, batting for the second time in the inning, tripled to right center to bring home Torres, Ortiz and Ramirez.
Prairie View A&M closed the gap to 9-1 with a run in the bottom of the eighth, but couldn't get any closer as Grambling State took the first of a three-game road SWAC series.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with nine runs on nine hits and left 10 on base
>
Garrett Smith went 3-for-5, with three runs batted in and one run scored to pace the Tiger offense
>
Ian Bailey added two hits, four RBIs and two runs scored
>
Richard Ortiz,
Jahmoi Percival,
Drexler Macaay and
CJ Mervilus each recorded one hit
>
Bryan Delgado (3-1) started for the Tigers and was masterful through seven innings. He fanned eight, walked one and scattered just two hits.
>
Julien Martin and
Jamary McKinney worked two innings in relief
> Prairie View A&M registered one run on four hits and stranded seven baserunners
> Demarie Smith led the way at the plate for the Panthers by going 2-for-4
> Tracy Warren (0-3) started on the mound for Prairie View A&M and surrendered five runs on six hits, struckout five and walked four in 5.2 innings
> Lorenzo Hardit and Brian Williams pitched in relief
Up Next
Grambling State continues its three-game SWAC series on Saturday against the Panthers. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. from Tankersley Field.
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