HOUSTON, Texas | Kevin Whitaker, Jr. homered and drove in four, but the Grambling State University baseball team could not hold on to a four-run lead late as Texas Southern picked up an 11-8 victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Friday afternoon at MacGregor Park.
 
Grambling State (12-17 overall, 7-6 SWAC) led 8-4 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but Texas Southern had other plans. TSU (11-19, 7-6) scored seven runs, including a three-run homer by OJ Oloruntimilehin, between the seventh and eighth innings to earn the SWAC win.
 
How It Happened
Texas Southern opened the scoring with one run in the second, but Grambling State quickly responded with a run in the top of the third.
 
With one down in the frame, Drexler Macaay doubled and came across to score on a base hit by Richard Ortiz to tie the game at 1.
 
GSU grabbed a 3-1 advantage in the fourth on a two-run homer by Kevin Whitaker, Jr.
 
Texas Southern closed the gap to 3-2 with a run in the fifth and the two teams entered the seventh inning all tied at 4.
 
Grambling State broke the 4-all tie with four runs on two hits to grab an 8-4 lead in the top half of the seventh.
 
With one down in the frame, Isaiah Torres singled up the middle and advanced to second when Richard Ortiz drew a walk. After a Rafael Ramirez, III strikeout, Nick Wheeler walked to load the bases.  After a pitching change, Jahmoi Percival walked and Whitaker followed with a single through the left side to plate all runners and give GSU the 8-4 lead.
 
Texas Southern answered in the bottom of the frame with four runs on two hits and took advantage of an error to tie the game at 8.
 
TSU broke the tie in the eighth with three runs on Oloruntimilehin's homer to grab an 11-8 lead.
 
Grambling State had a chance to tie the game with Percival and Garrett Smith on second and third with two outs, but Ian Bailey flied out to end the game.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with eight runs on 11 hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded 11 on base
> Kevin Whitaker, Jr. paced the Grambling State offense by going 3-for-4, with four RBIs and one run scored
> Jahmoi Percival went 2-for-4, with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs
> Ian Bailey, Drexler Macaay, Isaiah Torres, Richard Ortiz, Nick Wheeler and Garrett Smith each collected one hit
> Bryan Delgado started on the hill and surrendered six runs (five earned) on 12 hits, with four strikeouts and one walk in 6.1 innings pitched
> JC Bonilla, who took the loss, and Kaelin Woodard pitched in relief
> Texas Southern finished with 11 runs on 15 hits, committed three errors and left three on base
> OJ Oloruntimilehin went 3-for-4, with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Parker DeLeon was 2-for-5, with four runs driven in and two runs scored
> Aaron Solis pitched 6.2 innings and gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, fanned nine and walked three
> Chris Suarez (1-2) picked up the win in 2.1 innings of relief. He gave up one run on three hits, struck out four and walked three
 
Up Next
Grambling State continues its three-game SWAC road series with Texas Southern on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. MacGregor Park in Houston, Texas.
 
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