PINE BLUFF, Ark. | The Grambling State University baseball team exploded with two big seven-run innings on Sunday as the Tigers completed the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series sweep of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 14-11, at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
 
Grambling State (20-19 overall, 14-7 SWAC) scored 43 runs during the three-game series and outscored the Golden Lions, 33-13, over the final two games.
 
How It Happened
Grambling State, coming off a 19-run, seven-inning performance in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, exploded out of the gate with seven runs on seven hits to take an early 7-0 lead.
 
With one down in the frame, Drexler Macaay singled to left and moved to second on a base hit to right center by Richard Ortiz. Trevin Bolden followed with an RBI single to left center as Macaay scored. Kevin Whitaker, Jr. reached on an infield hit to load the bases. Jahmoi Percival drew a walk to score Ortiz.
 
Garrett Smith singled to right center to score Bolden as Whitaker was out at third for the second out. Ian Bailey followed with a single to right center to plate Percival. After a pitching change, Nick Wheeler walked and Isaiah Torres cleared the bases with a three-run double to left to give the Tigers the 7-0 advantage.
 
Despite being down 7-0 to begin the game, Arkansas-Pine Bluff climbed all the way back and took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The Golden Lions plated two runs in the first, two in the second, two more in the fourth, before scoring three in the fifth to grab a 9-7 advantage.
 
Grambling State quickly answered with a seven-run sixth inning to grab a 14-9 lead.
 
With one down in the frame, Ortiz walked and Bolden was hit by a pitch. Whitaker singled to left field to load the bases. Percival delivered a bases-clearing triple to score Ortiz, Bolden and Whitaker. Smith doubled to right center to plate Percival and Wheeler belted a two-run homer to left. Torres doubled and after a pitching change, Macaay singled to right to bring in another run.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff closed the gap to 14-11 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, but that would be as close as the Golden Lions would get.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 14 runs on 18 hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded 10 on base
> Isaiah Torres led the Tigers offense by going 4-for-6, with three RBIs and one run scored
> Richard Ortiz went 3-for-4, with a pair of runs scored
> Drexel Macaay and Garrett Smith each collected two hits
> Jahmoi Percent went 1-for-3, with a team-high four runs batted in and two runs scored
> Ryan Huntington (5-1) started and lasted five innings. He gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits, struck out four and walked a pair
> Kerry Boykins, Jr. and JC Bonilla (first save) pitched in relief
> Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished with 11 runs on 16 hits, committed one error and left nine on base
> Colton Bochtler started on the bump and gave up six runs on six hits, walked one and fanned one
> Antoine Luster, Brandon Little (0-1) and Austin Toth worked in relief
 
Up Next
Grambling State takes to the road for its midweek game as the Tigers visit Alcorn State on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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