Courtesy of Curtis Ford Grambling State Athletics
NEW ORLEANS, La. | The Grambling State University baseball team pushed Alabama State into extra innings, but wasn’t able to finish the job, falling 10-4 in 10 innings on opening day of the Andre Dawson Classic in New Orleans, La. on Friday evening.
GSU (1-5) struggled to get consistent offense at the plate, scattering five hits throughout the game. The Tigers made most of its noise off of the strength of two home runs.
Jose Vargas smacked his first long ball of the year, with a two-run shot, while Keylon Mack added a solo homer of his own. Trevor Hatton was the only other Tiger to register a hit.
Alabama State (4-2) jumped on the Tigers early, opening up a 3-0 advantage in the second inning. Vargas’ two-run homer in the bottom of the frame cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the sixth inning with ASU leading 4-2, Mack once again pulled the Tigers within a run with his solo homer.
Grambling State put a scare in the Hornets in the eighth inning when Terry Burrell III drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game 4-4.
After pushing the game in the extra innings, GSU couldn’t withstand a six-run barrage by ASU in the top of the 10th .
While the Tigers didn’t have the strongest game hitting, GSU still found ways to get runners on base by working counts and drawing seven walks. Grambling State left 11 runners on base, however.
Lorenzo Petersen got the start for the Tigers, working 3.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts. Ethan Bates (0-1) was saddled with the loss in relief, tossing 1.1 innings, surrendering four runs on four hits.
Shadai Colon got the win for the Hornets with 2.2 innings pitched, holding GSU to just one hit.
Up Next
Grambling State continues play in the Andre Dawson Classic versus Alabama A&M on Saturday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
