Grambling accomplished a central goal in topping ULM this week: Taking midweek non-conference opponents seriously.
First-year coach James Cooper has been stressing the importance of playing every game with intensity and focus, even the ones that don’t count in the standings. That paid off with a 15-5 thumping of a much-larger nearby university program that plays football in the FBS.
“It’s one of the things that we’ve talked about — really competing and trying to win one of these midweek games,” Cooper said.
Grambling jumped out to a sizeable 4-0 first inning lead behind RBI by Steve Kletke, Kyle Page and Joe Gill. That sent the Tigers’ staggered opponent on a jag of six different pitchers, coughing up 10 unearned runs on Wednesday night. At one point, they resorted to putting a catcher in to pitch.
Meanwhile, GSU’s John Brown powered through what had been a deceptive ERA. “We feel that John can keep those bigger schools off balance; he has weekend velocity,” Cooper said. “He stayed ahead of most of his batters, and capitalizing on their errors.”
After starting the year on a 0-9 skid, Grambling has claimed 6 of 8 games against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents so far, and won 9 of its last 13 contests.
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Hey Gramblinites… we have a good baseball coach. Let's support him and the squad.
I had an opportunity to meet the new coach. He is young but he is a very good coach. I was so happy to get this win. Continue the good work.
Way to go Tigers!!!! Congrats coach and team!!! I know we have what it atkes to win!!! Keep it up team!!!
I'm feeling good about the showing of Coach Coop and the Tigers. GSU Athletics is on the upswing…back to how it's supposed to be in all sports, contending and winning!