GRAMBLING, La. | Drexler Macaay,
Garrett Smith and
Warren Laster homered as the Grambling State University baseball team continued its hot streak with a 12-0 victory in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series opener of Southern on Friday night at R.W.E. Jones Park.
Grambling State (22-19 overall, 15-7 SWAC), which has scored 69 runs over the last five games, extended its win streak to seven games. The Tigers scored five runs in the first inning and exploded for six runs, highlighted by an inside the park grand slam home run, in the third inning.
Southern (24-18, 15-4) managed just three hits off Grambling State starting pitcher
Bryan Delgado.
How It Happened
Grambling State struck for five runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early 5-0 lead.
Isaiah Torres singled through the right side to begin the frame and scored when Drexler Maccay belted a 2-2 pitch deep over the left field fence for the two-run homer. With one out,
Rafael Ramirez, III walked and
Jahmoi Percival was hit by a pitch with two outs.
Garrett Smith stepped to the plate and hammered a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for the three-run home run.
The Tigers continued to add to the lead, highlighted by a
Warren Laster inside the park home run, with six runs in the third inning.
Ramirez drew a walk to begin the inning and moved to second on a
Kevin Whitaker, Jr. base hit through the left side. A bunt single by Percival loaded the bases with no outs. Smith walked to bring in Ramirez and after a pitching change, Laster ripped the ball down the right field line. Whitaker, Percival and Smith scored as Laster never stopped running and came across for the inside the park home run.
Nick Wheeler continued the inning with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Torres singled through the right side to plate Wheeler from third and extend the Grambling State lead to 11-0.
The Tigers continued their offensive output in the fourth inning.
Whitaker ripped a one-out base hit up the middle and came across to score on a double to right center by Percival to push the advantage to 12-0.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 12 runs on 10 hits and stranded four on base
>
Isaiah Torres, Kevin Whitaker,
Jahmoi Percival and
Warren Laster each collected two hits
>
Bryan Delgado (6-2) dominated the Southern lineup as he fanned seven and scattered just three hits
> Southern finished with three hits, one error and left three on base
> Tyler LaPorte, Ashanti Wheatley and Willie Ward each registered one hit
> Jerome Bohannon (3-4) took the loss as he surrendered nine runs on five hits, walked five and struck out one in two innings pitched
> Austin Haensel worked four innings in relief
Up Next
Grambling State continues its three-game SWAC series on Saturday against Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
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