Grambling State University Athletics

GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State rallied from a five-run deficit in the opener and followed with another late-inning surge in the nightcap to sweep a Saturday doubleheader from Florida A&M at Wilbert Ellis Field.

With the two victories, GSU improved to 18-26 overall and 15-8 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), while Florida A&M fell to 21-21 and 16-7 in conference/ 

In the first game, Grambling State  outlasted Florida A&M 12-11 in a back-and-forth contest that featured 23 total runs and 29 hits.

GSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a solo home run from Julio Vasquez and RBI singles from Trey Bridges and Aidan Lopez. FAMU chipped away with runs in the third and fourth before taking control in the middle innings.

Jackson McKenzie powered the Rattlers, launching a three-run home run in the fifth to give Florida A&M a 5-3 lead before adding a grand slam in the sixth to stretch the advantage to 9-3. FAMU added another run later in the inning to make it 10-3.

Grambling State began its comeback in the sixth when Ryan Davis connected on a two-run home run to trim the deficit to 10-5.

The Tigers then delivered the decisive blow in the seventh inning. After loading the bases, Chris Marcellus drew a walk to bring in a run, and James Woody followed with a two-run single. Davis tied the game with a two-run double, and Bridges gave Grambling the lead with an RBI single. Lopez capped the inning with another run-scoring hit as GSU scored seven runs in the frame to take a 12-10 lead. 

Florida A&M threatened in the ninth, scoring on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one, but Payton Allen recorded the final outs to secure his third save of the season. 

Nick Robinson (1-0) earned the win in relief, while Davis led the Tigers offensively with four RBIs. Marcellus added three hits and three runs scored.

In the second game, Grambling completed the sweep with a 6-4 victory, using a three-run seventh inning to reclaim the lead.

The Tigers struck first in the opening inning when Bridges scored on a fielder's choice by Charles Ashe III. Florida A&M answered in the second to tie the game, but Grambling regained the lead in the third on an RBI single by Cameron Hill.

Marcellus extended the advantage to 3-1 with a solo home run in the fourth, and the score remained that way until the seventh.

FAMU rallied in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead, highlighted by a two-run single from McKenzie. 

Grambling answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Marcellus opened the frame with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Lopez tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Hill then delivered the go-ahead hit, lacing a two-run double to center field to give Grambling a 6-4 lead. 

The Tigers' bullpen closed it out from there. Mohamed Harati (1-4) earned the win in relief, and Trenton Shaw struck out three in a perfect ninth inning to record his first save.

Hill led Grambling at the plate in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Marcellus added two hits and a home run. Bridges scored three runs, reaching base multiple times.

Grambling will look to carry the momentum into the series finale against Florida A&M.