Grambling, LA---Grambling’s Alvin Simmons two out double in the bottom of the ninth inning scores pinch runners Joe Gill and OJ Simmons to lift the Tigers to a 15-14 win over Jackson State ending JSU’s 17 game win streak.
It was Baseball Reunion night in Grambling and it was full of excitement including an hour and 20 minutes rain delay, an Atomic Wing eating contest sponsored by Wing Stop of Ruston and won by GSU offensive line coach Keith Wagner, a cook out for GSU alumni baseball players and plenty of fireworks on the field as the two teams combined for 29 runs and 33 hits in a slugfest that lasted nearly five hours.
Grambling got things going early jumping out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings. Jackson responded with three of their own in the top of the third and went ahead briefly, 8-5, in the fifth inning. Grambling would tack on three in their half of the fifth to once again force a tie.
Holding a slim 11-9 lead the Tigers allowed four J-State runs in the eighth and one in the ninth inning falling behind 14-11 to set the stage for the remarkable finish.
GSU catcher Brandon Smith led off the inning with a single at third base. Following a Chris Wolfe strikeout Anthony Clifton doubled scoring Smith. Arthur Mazierski followed with an RBI double of his own (Gill on to pinch run) and Steve Kletke reached first after being hit by a pitch (OJ Simmons on to pinch run) before Alvin Simmons stepped in the batter’s box facing Quintavious Drain, the NCAA leader in wins, and with a one ball, one strike count belted a towering double into the right centerfield to end the game.
Simmons, who led four Tigers that recorded three hits each, also added two runs and two RBI’s. Milt Barney went three-for-five at the plate scoring three runs with two RBI’s. Mazierski and Jeremy Shelby also had three hits. On the mound Matt Mitchell picked up the win in his first collegiate appearance going one and two-thirds innings.
Jackson was led by Cortez Cole’s three-for-four plate performance with four runs scored and a RBI including a solo homerun to lead off the ninth inning. Charles Epperson went four-for-five with two RBI’s. Drains suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs in two-thirds innings pitched.
Grambling will return to action Friday at 1:00 pm for Senior Day, when they host Mississippi Valley State in their regular season finale.
-GSU-