GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University pitcher Shemar Page, once again showcased why he's one of the most dominant hurlers in the country, tossing a 12-strikeout complete game, leading the Tigers to a 9-3 victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Prairie View A&M, at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park on Friday night.
Page (2-2), who's 12 strikeouts marked a season high, allowed just three runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks.
Offensively, the Tigers put on a power show with four of GSU's eights being home runs. John Garcia, Keylon Mack, Cameron Bufford and Trevor Hatton smacked round-trippers for Grambling State.
Robert Maldanado (1-2) was charged with the loss for PVAMU. He surrendered seven runs on seven hits, with eight strikeouts, in 6.2 innings of work
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the top of the first inning, Prairie View A&M (4-12) got its first two batters of the game on base thanks to an error and a hit batter. The Panthers' scoring threat was thwarted when Benjamin Ybarra lined out to right fielder, Trevor Hatton, on a hit and run attempt, setting up a triple play to end PVAMU half of the inning.
- In the bottom of the inning, John Garcia smacked a two-run home run over the left field wall, putting GSU on top 2-0.
- The Tigers scored again in the third inning on a ground ball, stretching their lead to 3-0
- With GSU (6-12) leading 3-1 in the fourth, Keylon Mack sent a solo homer sailing on the right centerfield wall, giving Grambling State a 4-1 lead.
- Prairie View A&M trimmed GSU's lead to 4-3 after plating one run in the fifth and seventh innings. However, the Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the inning. Cameron Bufford stroked a three-run opposite field shot to right field, giving GSU a comfortable 7-3 advantage.
- After a pitching change by Prairie View A&M, Garcia reached base a dropped third strike, setting up a two-run jack by Hatton, growing the lead to 9-3
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State registered eight hits
- Prairie view A&M tallied five hits
- GSU committed three errors
- PVAMU made four errors
- Shemar Page's complete game was the first for a GSU pitcher this season
- Page now leads the SWAC in strikeouts with 48
- The four home runs GSU hit on Friday are the most the Tigers have hit in a single game this season
- John Garcia went 2-for-4 with two RBI
- Cameron Bufford drove in three runs, going 1-for-3
- Keylon Mack went 1-for-3 with an RBI
- Trevor Hatton turned in a 1-for-4 performance with two RBI
UP NEXT
Grambling State continues its series with Prairie View A&M on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W. E. Jones Park.
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