By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
VERO BEACH, Fla. — Grambling State fell to Alabama State 6-5 on opening day of the Andre Dawson Classic at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla. on Friday afternoon.
GSU (2-3) led 5-1 after two innings but couldn’t fend off mid-innings surge by ASU (2-4).
Randy Reyes got the start for Grambling State, pitching 4.0 innings and surrendering six runs on six hits. He struck out three batters and issued three walks.
Payton Allen (1-1) was tagged with the loss in relief. He worked 5.0 innings, giving up no runs on one hit with one K.
Nyan Hayes accounted for three of Grambling State’s eight hits. Hayes went 3-for-5 with a RBI and three steals.
After surrendering a run in the top of the first, Grambling State answered with a five runs in the second inning. Chenar Brown drew a leadoff walk to open the bottom of the frame, advancing the second on a groundout by Shannon Martin. After Brown advanced to third on failed pickoff attempt and Arries Gardner reached base on balls, Chris Marcellus put the Tigers on the board with an RBI single.
After Keanu Jacobs-Guishard singled to load the bases, Martavius Thomasscorched a 2-RBI through the right side of the infield to make it a 3-1 game. Nyan Hayes followed with an RBI-single of his own, stretching GSU’s lead to 4-1. With Hayes on second and Thomas on third, Cameron Hill hit a grounder to shortstop that brought Thomas home and give the Tigers a 5-1 advantage.
The Hornets responded with a trio of runs in the top of the third, trimming Grambling’s lead to 5-4. ASU’s K. Douglas tied the game 5-5 with a leadoff homer in the top of the fifth.
After the Hornets loaded the bases, K Mcintosh hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Neither team scored again after that.
ASU’s Jorhan Laboy (1-0) got the win in relief, pitching 5.1 innings. He had seven strikeouts and allowed no runs on two hits and a walk.
UP NEXT
Grambling State faces Alabama A&M on Saturday at 9 a.m. EST at the Jackie Robison Training Complex. The game will be streamed on MLB.com.
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