HAMMOND, La. | Grambling State erased an early deficit and briefly took the lead Saturday, but Southeastern Louisiana scored three runs in the seventh inning to pull away for a 12-9 victory at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Grambling (3-11) collected 13 hits and rallied from a five-run deficit, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning that put the Tigers in front before Southeastern Louisiana (8-7) responded late.
The Lions struck first in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly from Brody Capps to take a 1-0 lead. Grambling answered in the second when Shannon Martin singled and later scored on a wild pitch before Martavius Thomas delivered an RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
Southeastern Louisiana responded with a big second inning. After loading the bases, Connor Cuff launched a grand slam to right field to cap a five-run frame and give the Lions a 6-2 lead.
Grambling chipped away in the third when Hasani Johnson reached on a bunt single and eventually scored on Martin's RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6-3. The Lions added another run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 7-3.
The Tigers mounted their biggest rally in the fifth. Cameron Hill sparked the inning with a two-run home run to left field to trim the lead to 7-5. Later in the frame, Charles Ashe III delivered a two-run triple to right-center to tie the game before Thomas grounded out to bring home another run and give Grambling an 8-7 lead.
Grambling added to its advantage in the sixth when Chris Marcellus singled to center to score Aidan Lopez, pushing the Tigers ahead 9-7.
Southeastern Louisiana answered again in the bottom of the sixth. Ben Robichaux led off with a solo home run, and the Lions later tied the game at 9-9 when Capps scored on a balk.
The Lions broke the tie in the seventh inning. Justin Williams doubled to open the frame and eventually scored on an RBI single from Robichaux. Giovanni Licciardi followed with a sacrifice bunt that brought home another run, and Capps added an RBI single to extend the lead to 12-9.
Grambling threatened late, putting two runners on in the ninth, but Southeastern Louisiana reliever Nick Gisclair struck out the final batter to secure the save.
Hill led the Tigers at the plate, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Ashe III also had a strong outing, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. Marcellus added two hits and an RBI, while Lopez and Dillon Braxton each contributed extra-base hits.
Trevor Esparza provided key relief for Grambling, tossing 3.2 innings with four strikeouts after entering in the second inning. Hampton Phillips (0-1) was charged with the loss.
Robichaux led Southeastern Louisiana with three runs scored and two hits, including a home run, while Cuff drove in four runs with his second-inning grand slam.
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