HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Connor Cuff’s grand slam capped a five-run second inning and sparked the Southeastern Louisiana Lions to a 12-9 victory over the Grambling Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The Lions, who won their fourth straight game and improved to 8-7, overcame an early deficit and a late Grambling rally behind a 10-hit attack and key relief pitching. The Tigers fell to 4-9 with the loss, their second in as many days to Southeastern Louisiana.

Grambling struck first, manufacturing a run in the second inning. Shannon Martin scored on a wild pitch, and Martavius Thomas followed with an RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the second. After Grambling starter Trenton Shaw loaded the bases with walks, Trevor Esparza entered in relief. Facing Cuff with the bases loaded, Esparza surrendered a towering home run to right field, the shortstop’s third of the season, clearing the bases and putting the Lions ahead 6-2.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly Cuff’s second-inning swing. It erased Grambling’s early momentum, provided a lead the Lions would not relinquish, and set the tone for a back-and-forth contest. Cuff, who also homered in Friday’s win over Grambling, finished 1 for 4 with the four RBIs.

Grambling chipped away, scoring once in the third on an RBI groundout by Martin. The Tigers then erupted for five runs in the fifth to reclaim the lead. Cameron Hill launched a two-run homer, his third of the year, and Charles Ashe III laced a two-run triple before scoring on another RBI groundout by Thomas to make it 9-7.

Southeastern Louisiana responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth. Ben Robichaux led off with a solo home run. Later in the inning, a balk by Grambling reliever Hampton Phillips allowed Brody Capps to score the tying run.

The Lions seized control for good in the seventh. Justin Williams doubled and scored on Robichaux’s RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt by Giovanni Licciardi brought in another run, Capps delivered an RBI single to cap the three-run inning and extend the lead to 12-9.

Southeastern Louisiana’s bullpen silenced the Grambling offense over the final four innings. Truitt Webb struck out the side in the seventh. Larson Fabre tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Nick Gisclair recorded the final out for the Lions, who used six pitchers in the game.

Hill led Grambling’s 11-hit effort, going 2 for 5 with the two-run homer. Ashe III had a triple and two RBIs. Esparza took the loss for Grambling, allowing four earned runs on no hits over 3 2/3 innings of relief, with the grand slam being the decisive blow.

Robichaux added a 2-for-3 day with a homer, two RBIs and three runs scored for the Lions. Licciardi drove in three runs.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday evening.