GRAMBLING, La. | Julian Murphy finished one single shy of the cycle as the Grambling State University baseball team jumped out to a 12-0 lead through two innings and didn't look back in a 26-3 victory over Alcorn State to conclude the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series on Sunday afternoon at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
Murphy doubled, tripled and homered in three consecutive at-bats, but could not pick up the single to complete the cycle. He went 3-for-5 at the plate with six RBI and four runs scored. The Tigers (18-21 overall, 13-5 SWAC) continued its offensive onslaught by racking up 21 hits in seven innings.
Grambling State outscored Alcorn State, 67-6, in the three games over the weekend and 124-21 in six conference games this season.
With the victory, Grambling State remains in a tie atop the SWAC West Division standings with Prairie View A&M. The Panthers defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 20-10, on Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Grambling State got things started in the bottom of the first inning, scoring six runs on five hits, while taking advantage of an error
- Shemar Page drew a two-out walk and advanced to second when Trevor Hatton reached on an infield hit
- John Garcia, who went 7-for-10 in the series and drove in nine of his 12 runs with two outs, singled and advanced to second as Page came in to score
- Julian Murphy followed with a double to right center as Hatton and Garcia scored
- Cameron Bufford absolutely tattooed a 1-1 pitch deep over the center field wall as GSU led 5-0 - Aries Gardner singled to right and stole second
- After a Nasir Frederick walk, Gardner moved to third and scored on a wild pitch as the Tigers grabbed the quick 6-0 lead
- The Tigers added to the lead in the second inning with six runs on six hits and capitalized on an error
- Jarficur Parker doubled to left center to open the frame
- After a Page walk, Hatton singled through the right side as Parker scored
- Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball and Garcia brought Page across on a sacrifice fly to center
- Murphy followed with a triple to right center as Hatton scored
- Bufford reached on an infield hit as Murphy scored, while Gardner doubled down the right field line
- With two down, Terry Burrell III reached on a throwing error as Bufford scored
- Parker followed with a base hit to right center as Gardner scored
- Grambling State put the game away in the third inning by scoring 11 runs to take a 23-0 lead
- The Tigers got a three-run homer by LeAndre Turner in the fifth inning to extend the margin to 26-0
- Alcorn State (2-26, 2-15) picked up three runs in the sixth
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State scored 26 runs on 21 hits, committed one error and left 13 on base
- Alcorn State finished with three runs on seven hits, with two errors and stranded seven on base
- Julian Murphy led the way offensively by going 3-for-5, with six RBI and three runs scored
- Cameron Bufford went 4-for-4, with four RBI and four runs scored
- Jarficur Parker went 3-for-4 at the plate, with four RBI and two runs scored
- John Garcia, who swung a very hot bat over the weekend, went 3-for-2, with three RBI and two runs scored
- Trevor Hatton added two hits, three runs scored and a pair of RBI
- Aries Gardner also went 3-for-4, with four runs scored
- Roy Peguero (2-3) earned the start on the mound for the Tigers, scattering four hits, walking one and fanning one in four innings
- Corben Peters, Matthew Boult, Heath Backhus and Keith Carpenter pitched in relief
- Garrett Palladino (0-1) took the loss in working 2.0 innings. He surrendered 12 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits, with four walks
- Andrew Meadows, Payton Baylis, Jermel Ford and Ryan Poston pitched in relief
UP NEXT
Grambling State steps out of SWAC play for its midweek game as the Tigers play host to Northwestern State on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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