By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING — Grambling State opened the 2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament on a high note, defeating SWAC Eastern Division No. 3 seed Alabama State, 6-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Russ-Chandler Stadium in Atlanta.
It was Trevor Hatton’s 3-RBI triple in the fifth inning that served as the catalyst in GSU’s victory. Hatton had the hot bat for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and three RBI.
Mason Martinez (11-2) got the win on the mound after working 6.2 innings, surrendering three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
Javier Martinez picked up his second save of the season, entering the game with two outs in the seventh inning. He pitched 2.1 innings, limiting the Hornets to no runs on one hit. He fanned three batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Grambling State began to put pressure on Alabama State starter Luis Rodriguez. Jose Vargasand Martavius Thomas opened with back-to-back singles. After Kyle Walker drew a one-out walk to load the bases, ASU made a pitching change, bringing in Jorhan Laboy.
- Ashton Inman immediately tied the game 1-1 with a sacrifice fly to left field.
- In the bottom of the fifth, GSU continued to build momentum. After loading the bases with two outs, Julian Murphy drew a bases loaded walk, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Trevor Hatton cleared the bases with a triple smashed off the right field wall, growing GSU’s advantage to 5-1.
- Alabama State’s Randy Flores cut into GSU’s lead with a two-run, making it a 5-3 game in the top of the seventh.
- GSU starting pitcher Mason Martinez exited the game with two outs in the inning, making way for Javier Martinez enter out of the bullpen.
- In the bottom of the frame, Cameron Bufford hit a triple into deep right centerfield. Bufford advanced home after the right fielder bobble the ball, extending GSU’s lead to 6-3.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State scored six runs on nine hits. The Tigers left eight runners on base.
- Tiger Borom went 2-for-3.
- Kyle Walker went 1-for-3.
- Cameron Bufford was 1 for-3 with a triple.
- Julian Murphy went 1-for-3.
- Jose Vargas went 1-fo-4.
- Alabama State scored three runs on 10 hits. The Hornets stranded eight runners and committed one error.
- Randy Flores led ASU at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
- Jorhan Laboy (6-4) was tagged with loss for ASU. He pitched 3.0 innings out the bullpen, allowing four runs on three hits.
UP NEXT
Grambling State awaits the winner of Wednesday night’s game between E1 Florida A&M and W4 Southern. GSU will take on the victor of that game on Thursday night at 6 p.m.