HOUSTON – Texas Southern University's Tigers jumped out to big lead early and then held off a late rally from Grambling in a 12-11 victory Sunday at MacGregor Park.
Gaudencio Lucca (pictured) went 4-for-5 with a triple and four RBIs to lead the TSU attack as the hometown Tigers (8-15) improved to 8-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference divisional play.
Grambling State fell to 8-16 with the loss. The visiting Tigers saw their SWAC West Division record drop to 4-5.
TSU's Michael Villanueva pitched innings of effective relief for the home team, striking out seven batters as he improved his season record to a team-best 4-1. Villanueva entered the game with TSU ahead 4-3 in the second inning. After giving up a two-run single that scored inherited runners, his offense give up a comfortable lead with seven runs in the bottom of the third.
Gerrek Jimenez went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, while Horace LeBlanc also collected three RBIs while going 1-for-4. Two of LeBlanc's RBIs came on a single in the bottom of the first that scored Christian Sanchez and Jimenez to break a 2-2 tie.
The triples by Jimenez and Lucca highlighted the hometown Tigers' seven-run third inning. Jimenez knocked two RBIs with his triple, while Lucca came through with a bases-loaded three-bagger.
When Lucca knocked another RBI single in the bottom of the fifth that scored Richard Alamo, it seemed as if it would be merely an insurance run. But as Grambling scored five unanswered runs and had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top the ninth, Lucca's fourth RBI turned out to be the game-winner.
GSU's Elijah Sanders took the loss after being charged for 10 earned runs over two and one-third innings of work. Travarus Bell went 4-for-4 with two RBIs for the visiting Tigers.
Travis Smith earned the first save of his TSU career when came to the mound with two outs and two runners on in the ninth inning and induced Wesley Drain to hit a game-ending popup to shortstop Alamo.
Texas Southern's Tigers return to action when they visit Lubbock to face Texas Tech in a two-game series starting Tuesday. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Gaudencio Lucca (pictured) went 4-for-5 with a triple and four RBIs to lead the TSU attack as the hometown Tigers (8-15) improved to 8-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference divisional play.
Grambling State fell to 8-16 with the loss. The visiting Tigers saw their SWAC West Division record drop to 4-5.
TSU's Michael Villanueva pitched innings of effective relief for the home team, striking out seven batters as he improved his season record to a team-best 4-1. Villanueva entered the game with TSU ahead 4-3 in the second inning. After giving up a two-run single that scored inherited runners, his offense give up a comfortable lead with seven runs in the bottom of the third.
Gerrek Jimenez went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, while Horace LeBlanc also collected three RBIs while going 1-for-4. Two of LeBlanc's RBIs came on a single in the bottom of the first that scored Christian Sanchez and Jimenez to break a 2-2 tie.
The triples by Jimenez and Lucca highlighted the hometown Tigers' seven-run third inning. Jimenez knocked two RBIs with his triple, while Lucca came through with a bases-loaded three-bagger.
When Lucca knocked another RBI single in the bottom of the fifth that scored Richard Alamo, it seemed as if it would be merely an insurance run. But as Grambling scored five unanswered runs and had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top the ninth, Lucca's fourth RBI turned out to be the game-winner.
GSU's Elijah Sanders took the loss after being charged for 10 earned runs over two and one-third innings of work. Travarus Bell went 4-for-4 with two RBIs for the visiting Tigers.
Travis Smith earned the first save of his TSU career when came to the mound with two outs and two runners on in the ninth inning and induced Wesley Drain to hit a game-ending popup to shortstop Alamo.
Texas Southern's Tigers return to action when they visit Lubbock to face Texas Tech in a two-game series starting Tuesday. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics