PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --
Anthony Fernandez' grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Prairie View A&M Panthers a lead they would not relinquish Thursday as defeated Our Lady of the Lake 14-12 in the second game of a double-header.
Our Lady of the Lake, an NAIA program out of San Antonio, won the first game Thursday by a score of 6-4.
Fernandez, a junior from San Marcos, Calif., knocked six RBIs in the nightcap to lead the Panthers (1-5) to their first victory of the season. Prairie View A&M had ceded the first five runs of the game, but Fernandez' first home run of the season that gave the Panthers the lead was part of a five-run inning.
The Panthers also pushed six more runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to give themselves a 14-8 lead. The six-run advantage proved to be just enough of a cushion to withstand a late rally by the visiting Saints. Fernandez drew a bases-loaded walk, which was followed by a two-RBI single from
Connor Wrye to highlight the inning.
Jordan Stewart (1-1) pitched six innings to earn the victory. He struggled early, giving up four of his nine walks during the Saints' four-run second inning, but settled down as the game moved into the middle innings and the Panthers gave him a comfortable lead. He struck out five batters and gave up only three earned runs.
Walter Wells drew four walks during the game and drove in a run and scored two of his own.
Josh Jefferson collected his first two base hits of the season and scored three runs while batting in the No. 9 spot.
Starting pitcher John Garcia took the loss for the Saints despite the fact that David Marte gave up the grand slam. Errors by the Saints would work against them, as only five of Prairie View A&M's 14 runs were earned.
In game one,
Cody Den Beste went 3-for-5 with a double, while Wells went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple. Dougherty knocked three hits and
Kevin Macias added two base hits.
Alberto Aveytia started on the mound for the Panthers in game one and allowed only three runs over five innins while striking out six. He left the game with lead.
Jordan Foster absorbed the loss for the Panthers despite giving up only one earned run.
The Panthers and Saints conclude their series Friday at 1 p.m.
