G-Men punch NCAA ticket in walk-off fashion

By T. Scott Boatright

ATLANTA —- History continues happening for Grambling State athletics in 2024.

After seeing both GSU basketball teams earn postseason hoops berths earlier this spring, now the Diamond G-Men have earned the first NCAA berth for Grambling since 2010.

It came in dramatic fashion.

Graduate student Trevor Hatton laid a bunt down the third base line that resulted in a throwing error allowing both Cameron Bufford and Kyle Walker to cross the plate in the bottom of the ninth, giving the G-Men a 6-5 win over Jackson State and the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship title.

The win secures the SWAC’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

The win comes only months after GSU’s men’s and women’s claimed postseason tournament basketball berths for the first time in years.

Jackson State scored a run in the top of the ninth to take a 5-4 advantage heading into Grambling’s last at bat.

But the north Louisiana Tigers were undaunted.

Walker singled to open the bottom of the ninth inning and advanced to second base on a throwing error before Jackson State intentionally walked Cameron Bufford. The runners were then advanced to second and third on a ground out to second base by Julian Murphy.

Following an intentional walk to Ashton Inman that loaded the bases, Hatton’s picture perfect bunt combined with the Jackson State throwing error provided the history-marking runs for GSU.

The teeter-totter of a game saw Jackson State go on top 2-0 in the top of the first inning before the G-Men plated one run in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth to build a 4-2 advantage.

But Jackson State countered with one run in the top of the fifth and another in the top of the seventh to tie things up at 4-4.

Jackson State plated a run in the top of the ninth before Hatton’s heroics in the bottom half of the stanza gave Grambling its first SWAC title in 13 years.

Hatton finished the day batting two-of-five for three runs batted in.

“He had a slow start to the season and at one point I had to sit him,” said GSU coach Davin Pierre about Hatton. “It was inconsistency. But he worked his way back into the (starting) lineup and my back big trio — Hatton, Julian Murphy and Cam (Murphy) — those guys were the heart of this. The heart of history being made.”

Pierre also credited mentors James Cooper and Wilbert Ellis for their encouragement throughout the season.

“I can’t say enough about either of them,” Pierre said. “I learned everything from Coop — he was my guy and I still talk to him all of the time.

“And Coach Ellis, he’s part of the foundation of Grambling State University. We love him for the support and dedication he’s shown to this team. We’re still learning from him every day. Now this team has to learn how to play in the NCAA Regionals, and that’s something I know Coach Coop and Coach Ellis are proud of, even if I’m the proudest.”

Grambling State will find out its regional site Monday at 11 a.m. when the NCAA Selection Show airs on ESPN.