Prairie View A&M returned to the diamond after a 10-day layoff as they split a softball doubleheader with Southern on Saturday evening in Prairie View.

In game one, a five-run fourth inning was the difference as Southern claimed the opener by a 7-3 margin.

With two outs in the first, Southern's Sydney Andrews hit a shot just over the second baseman's head which scored two runs for an early 2-0 lead.  PVAMU would answer in the third as Jalla Johnson drew a walk, moved to second on Destinee Williams' single, advanced to third on Laura Martinez's bunt en route to scoring on a wild pitch.

Once again with two outs in the fourth, the game got out of hand for PVAMU as SU recorded three straight hits and a walk which paved the way for a five-run frame and a 7-1 lead.  Freshman Kylar Ward-Flowers homered to open the fifth followed by Peyton Simms' RBI single to draw within 7-3 but that would be the final runs for PVAMU as Southern closed out the game.

Martinez led the way with a 2-for-4 performance while Jalla Johnson scored twice.  Monica Cartwright dropped to 2-8 on the season in four innings of action.

Olivia Lacewell picked up her first win of the season followed by Destinee Williams' three-hit performance as PVAMU won the nightcap 4-1.

Playing in her final series at PVAMU, Alissa Navarro started a two-out rally with a single to center followed by fellow senior Shontel Lopez's walk.  Ward-Flowers drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.

Lacewell and the Lady Panther defense held the lead with a firm grip over the next four innings as the offense would come alive and reward them with a solid fifth inning.  In the fifth, Williams hit a leadoff double to right center and an SU error allowed Heidi Woodworth to reach base while Williams moved to third.  Woodworth moved into scoring position with a stolen base and Navarro created some much-needed separation with a two-RBI single and a 3-0 lead.

Southern would hit a solo homer in the sixth to draw within 3-1 but senior Jazmine Hicks doubled in the sixth and scored the fourth and final run on Williams' single.  In the top of the seventh, Lacewell retired the side in order as the Lady Panthers picked up the split.

Williams finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI while Navarro went 2-for-3 with two RBIS and a run scored.  Hicks finished 2-for-3 with a run as Lacewell had a solid day on the mound with three strikeouts in a complete game performance.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Prairie View, Texas.