NATCHITOCHES, La. | The Grambling State University baseball team waited out a two-hour rain delay and nearly surrendered a five-run lead before holding on to take the opening game of the series, 7-6, over Northwestern State on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field.
Grambling State (24-21), which ended a two-game losing streak on Friday night and gave head coach
James Cooper his first win against the Demons, took a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, but held on to get the one-run victory.
How It Happened
Grambling State opened the scoring with one run in the top of the first inning.
With two down in the frame,
Richard Ortiz belted a homer to left center to give the Tigers a quick 1-0 lead.
Grambling State continued to lead 1-0 until the bottom of the third when Northwestern State struck for one run, tying the game at 1.
The Demons (26-19) plated a run in the fifth, but Grambling State responded with three runs in the sixth to grab a 4-2 advantage.
With one down in the inning,
Drexler Macaay reached on an error and scored on an Ortiz double to right center.
Rafael Ramirez, III followed with a base hit to right as Ortiz took third and scored on an error. Ramirez later scored on a two-out balk to give GSU the two-run lead.
Grambling State added to the lead in the eighth.
Ramirez opened the frame and was hit by a pitch. Phil Adams, Jr. pinch ran for Ramirez and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Jahmoi Percival struck out, but took first on a wild pitch as Adams moved to third. Smith walked to load the bases.
Warren Laster plated Ramirez with a sacrifice bunt and
Ian Bailey tripled to left center to score Percival and Smith, giving the Tigers a 7-2 advantage.
Northwestern State refused to go away quietly in the bottom of the frame as the Demons struck for four runs on three hits to close the gap to 7-6.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with seven runs on 12 hits, committed two errors and stranded seven on base
>
Richard Ortiz,
Kevin Whitaker, Jr. and
Ian Bailey each collected two hits
>
Kerry Boykins, Jr. (5-2) started on the hill for the Tigers and worked six strong innings. He gave up two runs on four hits, fanned a career-high nine batters and walked two
>
Grant Landry,
JC Bonilla and
Kaelin Woodard (second save) pitched in relief
> Northwestern State finished with six runs on seven hits, committed a pair of errors and left five on base
> Sam Taylor led the way for the Demons at the plate by going 3-for-5, with one RBI and one run scored
> Ridge Heisler took the loss as he was tagged for four runs (two earned) on eight hits, struck out six and walked four in six innings
> Peyton Graham and Jose Vasquez worked the final three innings in relief
Up Next
Grambling State continues its three-game series with Northwestern State on Saturday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.
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