By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING — For the second game in a row, Grambling State eclipsed the 20-run plateau, defeating Alcorn State 22-7 in seven innings on Friday night at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park.
Just like in the series opener, GSU (17-19 overall, 12-5 SWAC) blasted three home runs in a 16-hit effort.
Terry Burrell III had one of his strongest performances of the season, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, seven RBI and two stolen bases.
In total, six Tigers racked up multi-hit games. Nyan Hayes went 2-for-6 with a triple and a home run. Trey Bridges, Cameron Hill, Chenar Brown, Shannon Martin all went 2-for-4. Bridges and Brown both drove in a pair of runs with Bridges adding a home run and Brown tacking on a double to his stat line. Martin picked up three RBI and hit a double.
GSU starter Randy Reyes (3-3) notched his second consecutive win after pitching 4.1 innings, surrendering five runs on fours, He struck out two and walked four.
Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the second, Hayes’ solo homer extended GSU’s lead to 4-0.
The Tigers opened a double-digit lead with a six-run four inning. An RBI double by Burrell began the fourth inning onslaught. With runners on second and third, Brown ripped a two-RBI double to make it a 7-0 game. After an RBI single by Marcellus, Martin helped GSU push its lead to 10-0 with an RBI single roped up the middle of the infield.
Alcorn State (5-28, 1-15 SWAC) tried to make it interesting in the fifth inning, shrinking Grambling State’s lead to 10-5.
The G-Men responded with six runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 16-5 advantage. Bridges’ two-run home run highlighted the GSU half of the fifth.
With Grambling ahead 19-6 in the sixth, Burrell smashed a mammoth three-run homer to left field to make it 22-6. ASU added one run in the top of the seventh but couldn’t avoid the run-rule loss.
Jaylon Burrell led Alcorn State at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
Jermel Ford (0-9) was charged with the loss for the Braves. Gave up 10 runs on eight hits. He struck out three and walked three,
Up Next
Grambling State concludes its series with Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.