Courtesy: Grambling Athletics/Curtis Ford
VERO BEACH, Fla. | The Grambling State University baseball team carried a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning but couldn’t withstand a late rally by Florida A&M, dropping its opening game of the Andre Dawson Classic 7-6 on Friday evening.
Down to its final three outs, FAMU (3-2) used a leadoff home run followed by some patient approaches at the plate, drawing a walk-off walk to sneak past the Tigers in the final frame.
Ashton Inman paced the GSU (1-4) at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
Randy Reyes started the game on the mound for the Tigers, striking out six batters in 5.0 innings of work. He allowed four runs on five hits and five walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Grambling State found the scoreboard on an RBI single by Inman. Jose Vargas gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead with a sharply hit RBI single to left field. Later in the inning, Tiger Borom drew a bases loaded walk, stretching the advantage to 3-1.
- Janmikell Bastardo’s solo home run in the bottom of the third inning pulled the Rattlers within a run of the Tigers.
- Borom drove in his second run of the night in the top of the fourth on a towering RBI double to banged off the centerfield wall, making it 4-2 GSU. Florida A&M responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, squaring the game at 4-4.
- In the top of the eighth inning, Inman came through with a solo homer to put Grambling State back on top 5-4. Cameron Bufford tacked on another run in the top of the ninth with a RBI single, extending the lead to 6-4.
- FAMU’s Sebastian Greico hit a leadoff homer off of GSU reliever Raphael Capistran to open the bottom of the ninth, trimming the Tigers’ lead to 6-5. After the next two batters reached base via a single and a walk, the Grambling State made another pitching change, bringing in Carlos Peguero.
- FAMU’s Adam Haidermota then laid down a bunt single to load the bases. The Rattlers tied the game 6-6 on a wild pitch and then plated the winning run on a walk.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State finished with six runs on 12 hits. The Tigers committed one error and stranded nine runners.
- Florida A&M plated seven runs on 10 hits. They left 10 runners on base.
- Raphael Capistran was charged with the loss (0-1) after surrendering three runs on three hits in 1.0 innings. He fanned two batters and walked two.
- Cody Williams earned the win in relief for FAMU. He worked 0.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two batters.
UP NEXT
Grambling State travels to Vero Beach, Fla. continues the Andre Dawson Classic on Saturday when the Tigers take on Alabama State. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on MLB.com.