BOX SCORE

HOUSTON - The Prairie View A&M baseball team closed out an up-and-down day of baseball with a thrilling 9-8 extra inning win over Texas Southern on Sunday to go ahead in the season series 4-1.

The Panthers bounced back from a 9-5 loss in Game 1 of the double-header with the one-point victory to improve to 20-15 with an 11-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference record (Tops in the SWAC West).

Prairie View held a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, getting offensive production from the likes of shortstop James Fontenot (3-for-6, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), catcher Evan Richard (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs) and outfielder Darryl Johnson (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 hit).

However, in the seventh, Panthers starter Stef Hernandez was charged with three runs before being relieved by sidearm thrower Daniel Castillo. Texas Southern would go on to score four runs in the long inning and tie the game at seven.

Fast forward to the top of the 10th inning and the bases are loaded for second baseman Andre Oliver. He drew the base on balls and scored Evan Richard from third. On the next at bat, Fontenot reached on a fielders choice, driving in Johnson from third to give the Panthers a 9-7 lead.

Texas Southern scored a run in the bottom of the 10th and had a chance to tie the game with the bases loaded, a full count and two outs on the board for Anthony Flenoy. However, Flenoy ended up grounding out to Castillo to end the game.

Castillo picked up his third win of the season for Prairie View A&M, and the Tigers dropped to 18-19 (5-12 SWAC). The Panthers will host Southern beginning at noon on Saturday, April 21 at the Prairie View A&M Baseball Field.