GRAMBLING, LA -- Southern delivered a resilient, come-from-behind performance Saturday afternoon, rallying past Grambling State 7–6 at Wilbert Ellis Field to secure the weekend series. Trailing by three early and still down entering the sixth, the Jaguars erupted for four runs in a decisive inning and leaned on timely pitching to close it out.
Grambling struck first with a three-run second inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues, and added two more in the third to build a 5–2 advantage. Southern responded with flashes—highlighted by a two-run homer from KJ White Jr.—but couldn't fully break through until late.
That changed in the sixth.
With two outs, Southern strung together clutch at-bats. Beny Bikar Jr. delivered an RBI double, Ryan Hunter followed with a go-ahead hit that turned into a two-run swing thanks to an outfield error, and White capped the rally with another RBI knock. The four-run surge flipped a 5–3 deficit into a 7–5 lead.
Keys to Victory
1. Sixth-Inning Execution
Southern scored four runs with two outs in the sixth, turning the entire game around with timely hitting and pressure on the defense.
2. Plate Discipline
The Jaguars drew 9 walks, consistently putting runners on and forcing Grambling pitchers into tough situations.
3. Clutch Power & Contact
White's home run ignited momentum early, and his RBI single in the sixth provided the final margin.
4. Bullpen Stability
After Dismute's gritty start, Southern relievers combined for 2.2 scoreless innings to preserve the lead.
5. Aggressive Baserunning
Southern stole multiple bases, including two by Hunter, helping manufacture runs in key spots.
Key Performers
Southern
By the Numbers
- 7 – Runs scored by Southern on just 7 hits
- 4 – Runs in the game-changing sixth inning
- 9 – Walks drawn by Southern hitters
- 3 – Runs scored by Ryan Hunter
- 166 – Total pitches thrown by Southern staff
- 10 – Grambling runners left on base
- 3 – Southern errors, yet overcame defensive miscues
Southern's ability to stay composed after early mistakes defined the win. By combining patience at the plate, opportunistic offense, and late-game pitching, the Jaguars erased a deficit and secured a hard-fought 7–6 victory—along with the series over their in-state rival
Up Next:
Southern will be back in action Sunday afternoon, trying to complete the series sweep against Grambling at 1 PM.
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