GRAMBLING, La. — Watson Chapel native Michael Newby held Grambling State at bay for most of the afternoon on Sunday, which helped Arkansas-Pine Bluff get its first win of the year, 10-5.
Newby held Grambling to three runs on nine hits, two walks and struck out two in his seven innings of work as UAPB (1-11, 1-2 SWAC) had a 5-3 at the time.
The Golden Lions added five insurance runs in the ninth inning, which they ended up needing as Grambling scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
But it was not enough as UAPB was able to pick up the victory.
The Golden Lions struck first in the game as Tyler Hill hit a two-out RBI single in the first inning that scored Cody DeMara, who opened up the inning with a lead-off walk.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The top of the second inning started with James Boulware doubling, and he advanced to third on Sean Samsa’s bunt single. After Samsa stole second, Eddie Williams followed with an RBi single that scored Boulware. After Soloman Williams popped out to third base, DeMara hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Samsa for the 3-0 lead.
The Golden Lions stretched the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth when Samsa scored on DeMara’s RBI single.
Grambling started to chip away a the lead as the Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.
In the eighth inning, UAPB took a two-run lead as DeMara drove in Samsa again.
After Grambling added a run in the bottom of the eighth, Jacob Whitney and Boulware were hit-by-pitches to begin the top of the ninth inning. Both players scored on an error on a hit by Eddie Williams. Samsa also scored, who followed Whitney and Boulware with his third hit of the game.
Eddie Williams later scored on an error and DeMara drove in Soloman Williams for his fourth RBI of the game.
Stanten Jones pitched the final two innings for UAPB and gave up two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out three batters.
DeMara was 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs and one run scored, Eddie Williams drove in four runs and Samsa was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.