GRAMBLING — Four players recorded three RBIs but Southern University baseball was unable to overcome an early deficit in Saturday's 21-16 loss to Grambling State at RWE Jones Park.

The win clinched the weekend series for Grambling State but Southern can capture the season series with a win Sunday afternoon to avoid the three-game road sweep.

Hampton Hudson and Javeyan Williams tied for the team high in hit with three each and combined to bat 6 of 9 at the plate. 

Hudson started 0-2 before catching fire in his final three at-bats, which included hitting a homerun in the eighth inning.

Williams posted a triple, his sixth of the season, and scored one run.

Tyler LaPorte and Willie Ward each added base-clearing doubles to combine for six RBIs despite hitting 2 of 7. LaPorte also recorded a sacrifice fly and Ward scored twice.

Bobby Johnson joined Hudson and Williams in posting three hits on the day. Johnson also scored three times.

Southern collected 15 hits but burned through six pitchers after allowing the Tigers to score 21 runs on 19 hits.

Starter Justin Freeman yielded four runs on three hits and was relieved after pitching two-thirds two of the first inning. 

Southern returns to RWE Jones Park on Sunday looking to avoid the first conference sweep of the 2019 season. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.