JACKSON, Miss. | Grambling State exploded for 20 runs in the opener before falling in a back-and-forth nightcap as the Tigers split Monday's doubleheader with Alcorn State at Smith-Wills Stadium, securing the weekend Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series.
Grambling State resumed Friday's suspended contest in the first game and powered past Alcorn State, 20-8, before the Braves answered with a 12-11 victory in the second game.
With the split, Grambling State moved to 16-26 overall and 13-8 in SWAC play.
In the opener, the Tigers used a relentless offensive attack, collecting 17 hits and drawing 18 walks.
Grambling jumped in front with five runs in the first inning. Shannon Martin drove in two with a single, Charles Ashe III added an RBI double and James Woody followed with a run-scoring double.
After Alcorn State rallied with six runs in the third to take a 7-6 lead, Grambling responded immediately. Cameron Hill blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Tigers back in front, 8-7.
The Braves tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the inning, but Grambling regained control in the fifth on Ashe's two-run single.
When play resumed Monday, the Tigers continued to pour it on. Aidan Lopez tripled home Daniel Soukup II in the sixth, Grambling added four runs in the eighth and closed the game with a five-run ninth inning.
Lopez went 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Trey Bridges finished 3-for-6 with five runs scored and two RBIs. Martin drove in five runs, while Ashe added four RBIs. Woody collected three hits and Hill homered and scored four times.
Payton Allen earned the win in relief, tossing six strong innings while allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
The second game featured another offensive battle, with Grambling erasing multiple deficits before Alcorn State scored the decisive runs in the seventh inning.
The Braves grabbed an early 2-1 lead before Grambling erupted for five runs in the third. Cameron Hill tripled in a run, Julio Vasquez followed with an RBI single and Ashe launched a two-run homer to left field. Ryan Davis later added an RBI single as the Tigers built a 6-2 advantage.
Alcorn State answered with four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game, then scored four more in the fourth to take a 10-6 lead.
Grambling refused to go away and mounted another rally in the sixth inning. Julio Vasquez drew a bases-loaded walk, Trey Bridges scored on a wild pitch, Shannon Martin delivered an RBI single and Davis added a sacrifice bunt to cap a five-run frame that pushed the Tigers back in front, 11-10.
The Braves answered again in the bottom of the seventh. A run scored on a dropped fly ball in left field before a sacrifice fly gave Alcorn State a 12-11 lead.
Grambling was unable to rally in the final two innings.
Vasquez paced the Tigers in the nightcap, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Bridges finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Ashe homered and drove in two runs. Hill scored twice and tripled, while Martin added an RBI.
UP NEXT
Grambling State gears up for its final home conference series of the season when it welcomes Florida A&M to town. The series is set to begin on Friday night at 6 p.m. at WIlbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.Â
Friday, May 1 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 2 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 - 1 p.m.Â
FOLLOW GRAMBLING ATHLETICS
Stay updated with Grambling State Athletics by following @GSU_Tigers on X, @gramblingathletics on Instagram, and /GramblingStateTigers1901 on Facebook, or by visiting gsutigers.com
Â
