PINE BLUFF, Ark. | Grambling State University head baseball coach
James Cooper collected his 200th career coaching victory as the Tigers swept a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) doubleheader from Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
Grambling State (19-19 overall, 13-7 SWAC) outlasted Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-30, 2-16) in the opener, 10-8 in 11 innings and used a 12-run seventh inning to cruise to a 19-2 victory in the nightcap.
How It Happened – Game 1
Arkansas-Pine Bluff took a 2-0 lead into the fourth with the Golden Lions scoring one run each in the first and third innings.
Grambling State got on the board with a six-run fourth inning to grab a 6-2 lead.
Rafael Ramirez, III opened the frame with a walk and moved to second when
Kevin Whitaker, Jr. was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by
Jahmoi Percival.
Garrett Smith followed with a base hit to center to score Ramirez as Whitaker stopped at third.
Warren Laster singled up the middle to plate Whitaker and
Nick Wheeler doubled to right to score Smith.
Isaiah Torres grounded out to the shortstop for the second out as Laster came in to score. With two down in the inning,
Drexler Macaay homered to deep left to give the Tigers the 6-2 advantage.
The Golden Lions cut the deficit to 6-4 with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Grambling State scored one run in the sixth and one more in the ninth and was just three outs from winning the game, 8-4.
However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff had other plans and scored four runs and took advantage of three errors in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 8.
The Tigers won the game with a pair of runs in the top half of the 11th.
With one down in the frame,
Trevin Bolden walked and moved to second on a base hit to center by Whitaker. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball and came around to score on a two-RBI double by Percival to give the Tigers a 10-8 lead.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 10 runs on 12 hits, committed seven errors and stranded nine on base
>
Kevin Whitaker, Jr.,
Jahmoi Percival and
Nick Wheeler each collected two hits
>
Bryan Delgado started on the mound and gave up four runs (one earned) on three hits, with eight strikeouts and two walks
>
Kaelin Woodard and
Ryan Evans pitched in relief
>
Ryan Evans (1-2) earned the victory as he scattered two hits and struck out one in 2.2 innings
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with eight runs on 10 hits, committed two errors and left 10 on base
How It Happened – Game 2
Grambling State picked up two runs in the top of the first inning to grab a quick 2-0 lead.
With one down in the inning,
Drexler Macaay and
Richard Ortiz drew back-to-back walks. Both would come across to score on a triple by
Kevin Whitaker, Jr.
The Tigers doubled the advantage to 4-0 with two more runs in the fourth.
Whitaker opened the frame with a double to left and scored on a
Jahmoi Percival base hit down the right field line. With two down,
Nick Wheeler brought
Garrett Smith, who reached on a base hit to right, in to score.
Grambling State extended the margin to 7-0 with a three-run fifth.
Ortiz opened the frame with a single to right and advanced 90 feet to second when Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Whitaker moved the runners up a base on a sacrifice bunt. Percival was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Smith followed with a single through the left side to plate Ortiz. Laster reached on an infield hit as Ramirez scored and Wheeler flied out to center for the sacrifice as Percival scored.
The Tigers put the game out of reach in the seventh inning as Grambling State exploded for 12 runs on six hits and took advantage of five walks and two hit batters.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 19 runs on 17 hits, committed one error and stranded 11 on base
>
Kevin Whitaker, Jr. paced the Tiger offense by going 5-for-5, with four RBIs and two runs scored
>
Richard Ortiz went 3-for-4, with three runs scored and one RBI
>
Isaiah Torres,
Trevin Bolden and
Garrett Smith each added two hits
>
Jason Alvarez (3-2) picked up the win in six innings of work. He walked five, fanned four and scattered just two hits
>
Grant Landry worked one inning in relief
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with two runs on four hits, committed two errors and left nine on base
Up Next
Grambling State concludes its SWAC series on Sunday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
