GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — Ryan Davis homered and drove in four runs, and Grambling scored eight runs in the seventh inning to rally past Florida A&M 12-11 on Saturday in the first game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference doubleheader at Memorial Gym.

Davis, the Tigers’ shortstop, went 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. His two-run homer in the sixth inning pulled Grambling within 11-5, and his two-run double in the seventh capped a stunning comeback that gave the Tigers a 12-11 lead.

Florida A&M designated hitter Jackson McKenzie had a monumental performance, going 3 for 5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. He hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and a grand slam in the sixth, giving the Rattlers an 11-3 lead. But Grambling’s offense erupted in the bottom of the seventh, sending 13 batters to the plate.

The Rattlers (21-21) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jay Bell reached on a fielding error by shortstop, but they did not score again until the third. In the top of the third, Jordan Brown reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, advanced to third on a single by Will Brown and scored on a double play grounder.

Grambling answered in the bottom of the second. Julio Vasquez Sanzsole led off with a solo home run, and Chris Marcellus and James Woody singled. After a sacrifice bunt by Davis, Trey Bridges singled in Marcellus, and Aidan Lopez singled in Woody, giving Grambling a 3-1 lead.

The Rattlers cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth. Ethan Miller singled, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a double by Matthew Perez. Florida A&M then took command in the fifth. Caden Kresak walked, Jay Bell singled, and McKenzie crushed a three-run homer to right center for a 5-3 lead. The Rattlers added four more hits and a walk in the inning but left two runners on.

Florida A&M broke the game open in the sixth. Jordan Brown walked, stole second, and after a foul out, Kresak and Bell walked to load the bases. McKenzie then launched a grand slam to left field, his second homer of the game, making it 11-3. The Rattlers added another run on a bases-loaded walk to Josue Figueroa before the inning ended.

Grambling’s Keyon Guillory started and lasted five innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs with five strikeouts. Keevyn Goss relieved and gave up seven runs in the sixth.

Down 11-3, Grambling began its comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Marcellus doubled, and Davis homered to left field, scoring two runs to make it 11-5. The Tigers then loaded the bases in the seventh after a walk, a fly out, a stolen base, another walk and a hit batsman. Chris Marcellus walked to force in a run, and James Woody singled to score two more, cutting the lead to 11-8.

Davis then doubled to left center, scoring Woody and Marcellus to tie the game at 10-10. Trey Bridges singled to drive in Davis for an 11-10 lead, and Lopez singled to score Bridges for a 12-10 advantage. Clark Lincoln relieved for Florida A&M and retired the side with a wild pitch and two strikeouts.

In the top of the ninth, the Rattlers mounted a rally. Jordan Brown walked, advanced to second on a single by Caden Kresak, and both moved up on a wild pitch. Jay Bell hit a sacrifice fly to score Brown, pulling Florida A&M to 12-11. McKenzie was intentionally walked, and Josh Bell pinch-ran, but Ethan Miller flied out to end the game.

Nick Robinson pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Grambling, allowing two hits. Payton Allen got the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out one. Caleb Granger started for Florida A&M, throwing six innings, allowing no hits but five earned runs and seven strikeouts. Clark Lincoln gave up no hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

The Rattlers had 14 hits and grounded into two double plays. The Tigers had 15 hits. Grambling (19-24) won despite the game simulator projecting a 6-5 Florida A&M victory and Interstat’s ELO system giving the Rattlers a 59.50 percent probability to win.