HOUSTON, Texas | Isaac Castro delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Alabama A&M University baseball team completed a huge come-from-behind victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating Grambling State, 15-14, during the final day of the HBCU Cactus Jack Classic at Daikin Park.
Alabama A&M (1-2) trailed 9-1 entering the bottom of the second inning and battled all the way back, tying the game at 14 after eight innings.
In the ninth,
Charles Morris reached on an infield single and was lifted for pinch runner
Brandon Edwards, who sprinted home on Castro's base hit to right, giving the Bulldogs a come-from-behind win.
"What a victory," Alabama A&M interim head coach
Louis Whitlow said. "These guys could have quit multiple times throughout this game, but it is a testament to them to keep battling and refusing to give up."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grambling State (2-1) jumped out to a 5-0 in the top of the first inning as Trey Bridges plated two with a double and Aries Gardner belted a two-run homer in the frame.
Alabama A&M got a run back in the bottom of the inning as
Dre Amaral, who walked to begin the frame, scored on a
Brycen Hammonds base hit.
The Tigers plated four runs on three hits and took advantage of an AAMU error to extend their lead to 9-1 in the second.
But back came the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning.
With one down,
Trey Rutledge singled to left and advanced to second after Amaral drew a walk.
Kylan Duncan followed with a base hit to right, scoring Rutledge. Hammonds tripled to left center, scoring Amaral and Duncan, before scoring on a wild pitch as Alabama A&M closed the gap to 9-5.
AAMU continued to trim the margin and had the tying run in scoring position in the third.
Morris drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Rutledge single to left. With two down, both runners advanced a base on a passed ball and Duncan walked to load the bases. Both Morris and Rutledge scored on wild pitches, before
Miles Jackson popped out to second to end the frame as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 9-7.
Grambling State plated two runs in the fourth, pushing the advantage to 11-7, but again Alabama A&M continued to rally by plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Rutledge opened the frame with a walk and advanced to second on an error. Amaral reached on an error and stole second. With runners in scoring position, Duncan singled and advanced to second on the play as Rutledge scored. Hammonds walked and Jackson brought Amaral across on a sacrifice fly to right.
Angel Rivera followed and plated Duncan with a sac fly to center as the Bulldogs pulled to within one, 11-10.
Grambling State added one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to push the lead to 14-10.
Alabama A&M rallied in the eighth, scoring four runs on two hits and took advantage of one GSU error.
With two outs in the inning, Rutledge was hit by a pitch, before stealing second and third. He scored one a stolen base as Amaral walked. Duncan was hit by a pitch and moved to second and advanced to third as Amaral scored on a wild pitch. Hammonds drew a base on balls and Jackson delivered a base hit to left, plating Duncan and drawing AAMU to within one run, 14-13. Rivera reached on an error as Hammonds scored, tying the game at 14.
After holding Grambling State in the top of the ninth, Alabama A&M got a leadoff hit by Morris, who was lifted for pinch runner
Brandon Edwards.
Isaac Castro, who was 0-for-5 before the walk-off hit, followed with a single to right as Edwards sprinted home for the game-winning run.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with 15 runs on 15 hits, with four errors and stranded 13 on base
- Charles Morris went 3-for-5, with one run scored
- Trey Rutledge went 2-for-3, with four runs scored
- Kylan Duncan, Brycen Hammonds and Miles Jackson each recorded two hits
- Avery Seaton started on the bump, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on six hits, with three walks and one strikeout in 2.0 innings
- Charlie Lazo, Bryce Dolce and Raymond Clark (1-0) saw action out of the bullpen
- Grambling State finished with 14 runs on 12 hits, committed three errors and left 12 on base
- Trey Bridges went 3-for-5, with three RBI and four runs scored
- Aries Gardner went 3-for-4, with four RBI and one run score
- Trenton Shaw gave up five runs on four hits, fanned five and walked four in two innings for the Tigers
- John Decoste, Taylor Dooley, Payton Allen, Derrell Fletcher and Mason Martinez (0-1) pitched in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action with its first midweek game of the season as the Bulldogs visit UAB on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. from Young Memorial Field and streamed on ESPN+.
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