Courtesy: Southern University
New Orleans — Southern University outfielder Ashanti Wheatley launched a walk-off solo homerun over the left field fence at Wesley Barrow Stadium to lift the Jaguars to an exhilarating 8-7 extra innnings win over rival Grambling in the Andre Dawson Classic hosted by Major League Baseball.
With the win, Southern salvaged a split during Day One of the annual HBCU baseball showcase and secured the first career win for first-year head coach Kerrick Jackson, who assume the helm of the SU program last June.
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With one out and facing a 1-2 count in the 10th, Wheatley turned on a fastball GSU pitcher Andy Escano left of the heart of the plate and blasted a solo shot over the left field fence, setting off a jubilant celebration at home plate.
Wheatley’s heroics punctuated a wild end to the Jaguars first win of 2018.
A major league come back
Southern trailed Grambling 6-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth when the Jaguars exploded for a 5-run inning highlighted by Javeyan Williams 3-RBI triple, which he scored on after a throwing error by D’Quan Matthews.
After Grambling tied the game at 7 on Marshawn Taylors’ sacrifice fly to score Phil Adams Jr. in the top of the ninth, Southern had a scoring threat negated after Williams was called out at third after being tripped by Taylor as he rounded second base.
Southern will open a nationally televised doubleheader on the MLB Network and MLB.com against Illinois-Chicago Saturday at 2 p.m. during Day Two of the Andre Dawson Classic.
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