LORMAN, Miss. | Richard Ortiz and Jahmoi Percival each drove in four runs as the Grambling State University baseball team extended its win streak to six games with a 14-7 victory over Alcorn State on Tuesday night at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
 
Grambling State (21-19), which has scored 57 runs over the last four games, pounded out 17 hits against Alcorn State.
 
How It Happened
After two scoreless innings, Grambling State broke through with a run in the top of the third inning.
 
Warren Laster reached on an error to begin the inning and moved to second on a stolen base. Isaiah Torres ripped a one-out double to right center to bring Laster across to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
 
Grambling State increased the advantage to 2-0 in the fourth when Kevin Whitaker, Jr., who reached on a base hit through the left side with one out, scored on a Jahmoi Percival single to right.
 
Alcorn State answered in the bottom of the fourth as the Braves loaded the bases off Grambling State starting pitcher Ryan Evans. After a pitching change by the Tigers, Alcorn State plated two runs to tie the game at 2.
 
Grambling State sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored seven runs on six hits to break the game wide open.
 
Percival opened the frame with an infield hit and came across to score on a Garrett Smith single through the right side. Laster was hit by a pitch and Nick Wheeler reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Torres drew a walk to plate Smith and with one out, Richard Ortiz singled to left center to score Laster and Wheeler.
 
Whitaker, who is the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hitter of the Week and College Sports Madness SWAC Player of the Week, singled up the middle to plate Torres. Percival, batting for the second time in the inning, singled to left as Ortiz and Whitaker came in to score, giving the Tigers a 9-2 advantage.
 
The Braves closed the gap to 9-5 with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
Alcorn State continued to battle back and cut the deficit to 9-7 with a pair of runs in the seventh.
 
The Tigers picked up a run in the eighth when Rafael Ramirez singled to begin the inning and was lifted for pinch runner Phil Adams, Jr. Adams stole second and third before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left by Percival as Grambling State stretched the lead to 10-7.
 
Grambling State put the game away with four runs in the ninth.
Wheeler walked to begin the frame and moved to second on a Torres ground out. Drexler Macaay walked and Ortiz brought both runners home on a double to left center. Trevin Bolden singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Whitaker followed with a base hit up the middle to score Ortiz and Bolden scored when Whitaker stole second and advanced on a throwing error as the Tigers stretched the lead to 14-7.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 14 runs on 17 hits, committed one error and left 11 on base
> Kevin Whitaker, Jr. paced the Tiger offense by going 4-for-6, with two RBIs and one run scored
> Richard Ortiz was 3-for-6, with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Jahmoi Percival went 3-for-6, with four RBIs and one run scored
> Isaiah Torres collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs, along with scoring once
> Ryan Evans made his first start of the season and gave up two runs on two hits, fanned six and walked four in 3.1 innings
> Grant Landry (3-1), Kaelin Woodard and JC Bonilla pitched in relief
> Alcorn State finished with seven runs on eight hits, committed two errors and stranded nine on base
> Tristin Garcia, Kyle Jenkins and Andrew Meadows each collected two hits for the Braves
> Austin Atwood (2-1) took the loss in 5.1 innings of work. He was tagged for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits, struck out five and walked three
> Tyler Smith, Abdallah Salman and Jacob Kieffer pitched in relief
 
Up Next
Grambling State concludes its home portion of the schedule April 26-28 against rival Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
 
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