PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas | Junior infielder Keylon Mack delivered a clutch ninth inning home run, giving Grambling State a 3-2 victory over Prairie View A&M in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Friday afternoon at Tankersley Field.
In a game where hits came at a premium, it came down to clutch hitting by a GSU and a rash of defensive miscues by PVAMU. The Panthers committed five errors, one of which plated a run, and a balk, which also allowed another GSU run to score.
Grambling State starting pitcher Shemar Page (6-4) had another phenomenal outing, tossing his fourth complete game of the year. Page struck out eight batters, while surrendering two runs on six hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless opening four and half innings, Grambling State (20-24 overall, 15-7 SWAC) broke the stalemate thanks to four errors by Prairie View A&M in the top of the fifth. Nasir Frederick reached base on an error by PVAMU pitcher, Robert Maldonado. Frederick advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Trevor Hatton got on base on a miscue by the shortstop, with Frederick scoring from second to put the Tigers on top 1-0.
- Prairie View A&M (27-19, 17-5) tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on sacrifice fly.
- Terry Burrell III hit a clutch two-out double to right field in the top of the seventh, advancing to third on the Panthers' fifth error of the day. A balk against PVAMU scored Burrell and giving GSU a 2-1 lead.
- Prairie View A&M once again evened the game up in the bottom of the eighth inning, 2-2, with an RBI single by Tre Turner, his second RBI of the game
- GSU's Keylon Mack took advantage of a pitching change, putting the Tigers up for good with a leadoff homer to open the ninth inning, 3-2
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State scored three runs on five hits and left seven runners base
- Prairie View A&M finished with two runs on six hits, leaving four runners stranded
- Keylon Mack went 1-for-3 with a home run
- Trevor Hatton went 2-for-4 with a stolen base
- Terry Burrell III went 1-for-5 with a double
- Robert Maldonado earned a no decision for PVAMU, allowing two runs on fours hits, with nine strikeouts and a walk in 8.0 innings.
- Tyrone Stubbs (0-1) was tabbed with the loss, surrendering a run on one hit in the ninth inning
- The victory pulls GSU within two games of first place in the SWAC West Division
UP NEXT
Grambling State continues its series at Prairie View A&M on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Tankersley Field.
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