PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Kenney Fabian threw seven innings of two-hit shutout ball and Zyon Hamilton drove in five runs as Arkansas-Pine Bluff routed Grambling 16-1 on Friday evening at Torii Hunter Baseball/Softball Complex in a Southwestern Athletic Conference mismatch.

The Golden Lions improved to 20-29 overall, while Grambling dropped to 20-25. Fabian, who had struggled in his previous start – allowing six earned runs on no hits in eight innings at Bethune-Cookman – was dominant from the first pitch. He struck out seven, walked four and did not allow an earned run. The only run Grambling scored was unearned in the fifth inning.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff seized control immediately, sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and scoring six times. The inning began quietly when Weston Gingerich grounded out, but Zach Wieder walked and Aaron Grant was hit by a pitch. Lazaro Alvarado walked to load the bases, and Blake Coleman was hit by a pitch to force in the first run. Nick Hockemeyer followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.

Konner Giddley then singled to center field, driving in Alvarado for a 3-0 lead. Hamilton delivered the big blow with a two-run single to right-center, scoring Hockemeyer and Coleman. Vinny Saumell grounded out to first base but plated Giddley, giving Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 6-0 advantage after one inning.

Grambling’s offense managed only two hits all night. Aidan Lopez doubled in the sixth inning, and James Woody doubled in the fifth, but the Tigers could not sustain any rally. Their only run came in the top of the fifth after Woody doubled and Shannon Martin walked. Martin scored on a passed ball, but Woody was picked off third base to end the threat.

The Golden Lions continued to pour it on. In the third inning, Giddley singled and Hamilton was hit by a pitch. Both stole bases, and Saumell’s sacrifice fly scored Giddley. Wieder singled through the right side to drive in Hamilton, making it 8-0.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff broke the game open in the fourth with five unearned runs. Blake Coleman singled, Nick Hockemeyer bunted for a hit, and then Giddley laid down a bunt single that was thrown away by Grambling third baseman James Woody. All three runners scored on the error, putting Arkansas-Pine Bluff ahead 11-0. Hamilton added a single before the inning ended.

The most decisive sequence occurred in the bottom of the fifth. Blake Coleman walked, Hockemeyer walked and Giddley walked to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Coleman to score. Hamilton then crushed a three-run homer to left field, all three runs unearned, to stretch the lead to 15-0. Alvarado’s RBI single in the sixth capped the scoring at 16-0 before Grambling’s unearned run made the final margin 16-1.

Hamilton finished 3 for 3 with a home run and five RBIs. Giddley went 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Wieder had a hit and an RBI, and Aaron Grant doubled and scored a run. For Grambling, Kejuan Burnett, Jacobie Smith and Hampton Phillips combined for four and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief, but the Tigers could not overcome the early deficit.

Fabian’s performance was the story. After a disastrous outing at Bethune-Cookman, he returned to form, allowing only two hits and never facing serious trouble. He threw 101 pitches, 65 for strikes, and retired the side in order in the second, third and fourth innings.

Grambling reliever Keyon Guillory lasted only one inning, allowing six earned runs on two hits and three walks before being lifted.

The two teams meet again Saturday and Sunday to complete the three-game series. Grambling then travels to Bethune-Cookman next week, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff hosts Arkansas State on Tuesday before a road series at Jackson State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Grambling 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Grambling a 61.60 percent probability to win.