JACKSON, Miss. | The Grambling State University baseball team split a doubleheader versus Jackson State on Friday afternoon at Braddy Field. GSU defeated JSU 8-1 in the first game before falling 6-3 in the nightcap.
Grambling State moved 10-15 overall and 6-2 in the SWAC, while JSU's record went to 15-10 and 3-5 in conference play.
Game 1
Grambling State's offense and defense were impressive in the first game. GSU racked up 12 hits and committed no errors in the series opener.
Starting pitcher
Mason Martinez (1-2) limited Jackson State to one run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work. He fanned six batters and walked three.
Nyan Hayes and
Chenar Brown both put together three hit games. Hayes went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Brown drove in three runs while going 3-for-4 with a double.
After a scoreless four innings, Brown hit a sacrifice fly to give GSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
Keanu Jacobs-Guishard led the top of the sixth off, reaching base on a fielding error from JSU's shortstop. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Jacobs-Guishard scored on an RBI double by
Chris Marcellus, giving GSU a 2-1 lead.
Marcellus came around to score advancing to third on a
Martavius Thomas bunt. Another JSU error allowed Marcellus to score on the play and stretch the advantage to 3-1.
Grambling State broke the game open in the eighth inning, pushing across five runs to go up 8-1. Hayes opened the eighth inning scoring by lacing an RBI single through the left side of the infield with runners on first and second. A two-RBI double by Brown cleared the bases, giving the G-Men a 7-1 advantage.
Aries Gardner wrapped up the eighth inning scoring with an RBI single that scored Brown.
Ethan Bates shut the door on JSU in the bottom of the ninth with a quick 1-2-3 inning to earn his third save of the season. Bates went 2.2 innings, surrendering no runs on two hits.
Game 2
In the nightcap, Grambling State's bats weren't as potent as they were earlier in the day. The G-Men scattered six hits in the contest. GSU left 12 runners on base.
Payton Allen (2-2) got the start on the mound for GSU and was strong in his outing, surrendering two runs on four hits and striking out three batters in six innings of work.
Javier Martinez saw action in a relief role, throwing two innings. He allowed four runs on six hits. He struck out one and walked one.
Jackson State built a 5-0 lead through first seven innings.
Trey Bridges got GSU on the board with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth. A single by
Shannon Martin, followed by a walk drawn by Marcellus, set the stage for
Martavius Thomas to drive in another run on an RBI single, cutting JSU's lead to 5-3.
Jackson State stopped GSU's momentum with a pitching change, bringing in Erick Gonzalez who struck out a pair of batters to end the inning.
Grambling State couldn't put together a rally in the ninth inning.
Jackson State's starting pitcher Eric Elliott struck out 13 and walked seven through six innings. He allowed just two hits.
UP NEXT
Grambling State concludes its series at Jackson State on Sunday afternoon at Braddy Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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