NEW ORLEANS -- The Urban Invitational, Major League Baseball's bridge to inner-city communities around the country, began its ninth season Friday in front of a rollicking crowd at the local Urban Youth Academy.
Here is a rundown of the Day 1 action:
Louisiana Tech 7, Prairie View A&M 0
Louisiana Tech got the Urban Invitational off to an interesting start with a one-sided win over Prairie View. Tyler Clancy threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for Louisiana Tech, and he allowed just three hits. Tech scored in each of the first three innings and took a 6-0 lead by virtue of a three-run fifth.
Designated hitter Cody Daigle drilled a solo home run in the victory, and right fielder Sean Ullrich was the only player to score multiple times. Prairie View had just five hits and made four errors in the loss.
• Louisiana Tech University vs. Prairie View A&M photos

Grambling State 15, Southern 0
Grambling got its season underway with a dominant performance against its in-state rival. The Tigers scored 11 times in the first three innings and added a four-run burst in the fifth. Infielder Daniel Barnett drilled an RBI single in the first inning and came back in the third with a three-run double.
Catcher Andres Castillo hit a solo homer in the second, and Tray Bell added a two-run double to make it a 7-0 game later in the inning. Diamyn Hall contributed a two-run double and a sacrifice fly. Southern notched just five hits, and the game was called by mercy rule after seven innings.
• Grambling State vs. Southern University photos

University of New Orleans 12, Alcorn State 3
UNO got its season underway with an 18-hit assault on the Alcorn State pitching staff, and infielder Aaron Palmer led the way with six RBIs. Palmer homered, tripled and singled in the rout. Palmer also scored three times, as did leadoff man Ryan Calloway. Five UNO players had at least three hits.
Shawn Semple pitched six innings and gave up one earned run in the victory, and he struck out nine batters. Alcorn State scored its final two runs on a ninth-inning single by Ashton Lewis.
• Alcorn State vs. University of New Orleans photos