GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — Grambling defeated Florida A&M 6-4 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Memorial Gym, rallying with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a one-run deficit and claim the Southwestern Athletic matchup.

The Rattlers struck early, scoring four runs in the first two innings. Will Brown singled to open the game and later stole second, but Florida A&M did not push across a run in the first. In the second, Alex Monile was hit by a pitch and scored on a throwing error after a fielder’s choice, giving Florida A&M a 1-0 lead. The Rattlers added three more runs in the inning on a Matthew Perez single and a wild pitch, building a 4-0 advantage.

Grambling answered in the bottom of the first. Trey Bridges walked, advanced to third on a single by Cameron Hill and scored on a fielder’s choice by Charles Ashe III. The Tigers cut the gap to 4-2 in the third when Bridges walked again, stole second and came home on an RBI single by Hill. Chris Marcellus led off the fourth with a solo home run to left field, making it 4-3.

Florida A&M starter Garrett Workman worked 6.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on zero hits but issued three walks and struck out three. The Rattlers turned to Cody Williams in the seventh after Workman exited. Grambling starter Trevor Esparza pitched 6.1 innings, yielding three hits and two earned runs with eight strikeouts, leaving the game with the score tied.

Florida A&M took the lead in the top of the seventh. Josue Figueroa singled and Jordan Brown walked. Esparza gave way to Mohamed Harati. Brown singled through the right side to drive in Figueroa, giving Florida A&M a 4-3 edge. Brown stole second, and after a hit batter, Jackson McKenzie singled to drive in two runs, extending the lead to 4-3. Harati retired the next batter to end the inning.

Grambling responded in the bottom of the seventh. Marcellus singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Davis. Martavius Thomas singled to shortstop. Williams relieved Workman and walked Bridges to load the bases. Aidan Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Marcellus and tying the game at 4. Hill then doubled to center field, driving in Bridges and Thomas to give Grambling a 6-4 lead.

Williams struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth after allowing a single and a hit batter, but the damage was done. Grambling’s Trenton Shaw pitched a perfect ninth, striking out three to earn the save.

Hill finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Marcellus went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Thomas added two hits for the Tigers, who improved to 19-24 overall and evened the season series against the Rattlers. Florida A&M dropped to 21-21.

For the Rattlers, Brown went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases. McKenzie drove in two runs. Esparza’s strong outing was his best since a rough relief appearance April 27 against Alcorn State, when he allowed five earned runs in two innings.

The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday. Florida A&M and Grambling will also meet Sunday to complete the three-game series.

Interstat’s ELO system projected Florida A&M with a 59.50 percent probability to win the game.