PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored seven unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Grambling 8-6 on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the first game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference doubleheader at Torii Hunter Baseball/Softball Complex.

The Golden Lions, who trailed 5-1 entering the seventh, took advantage of three Grambling errors and a pair of key two-out hits to turn the game. Jose Vasquez delivered a two-run single, and Lazaro Alvarado added an RBI single as part of the outburst that erased a four-run deficit.

Grambling had taken control early. The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning, capitalizing on singles by Aidan Lopez and Cameron Hill before Charles Ashe III drove in a run with a single. Grambling added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Martavius Thomas after a double play erased one runner, and another run in the fifth on a groundout by Ashe that scored Lopez after a passed ball.

Starter Payton Allen was effective for Grambling, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing no hits and striking out five. Allen held Arkansas-Pine Bluff hitless through five innings, but the Golden Lions scratched across a run in the fourth on a fielder’s choice by Nick Hockemeyer after a single and a stolen base.

Grambling led 5-1 when Allen left the game after five innings. The Tigers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Thomas tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shannon Martin, making it 6-1.

The bottom of the seventh began with a pinch-hit single by Dane Small off reliever Rafael Capistran. A throwing error on a fielder’s choice allowed Small to move to third, and Zach Wieder singled to drive him in. A sacrifice fly by Aaron Grant scored another run, and an error on the play allowed Wieder to advance to third. Alvarado then singled to drive in Wieder, trimming the deficit to 6-4. A fielding error by the third baseman loaded the bases, and a walk to Hockemeyer forced in a run. Konner Giddley then walked with the bases loaded to tie the game 6-6.

Vasquez followed with a two-run single to right field that gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff an 8-6 lead. Dane Small added a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring, but the inning ended with a flyout after Vasquez advanced to third.

Grambling attempted a rally in the ninth. Ashe singled and Thomas was hit by a pitch. Shannon Martin walked to load the bases with no outs, but James Woody flied out to right field. Nicholas Jack Jr. then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ashe and moving Thomas to third. Ryan Davis struck out swinging to end the game.

The Tigers outhit the Golden Lions 13-11 in the game. Grambling’s 13 hits included three by Ashe, who drove in two runs, while Alvarado had three hits for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Brendan Hamlin picked up the win for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, pitching 3.1 innings of relief, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Jack Hasten threw 2.2 scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts. Mohamed Harati pitched a scoreless eighth for Grambling.

The loss dropped Grambling to 21-26 overall, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff improved to 21-30. The Golden Lions had defeated Grambling 16-1 on Friday. Both teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Grambling with a 59.70 percent probability to win the opener.