PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M bats came alive Wednesday as the Panthers swept a doubleheader from the visiting Rams of Huston-Tillotson University.
 
Angel Avalos homered twice – once in each game – for the Panthers (12-30), who won by scores of 20-3 and 14-5.
 
Huston-Tillotson, a member institution of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Red River Athletic Conference, fell to 12-32 on the season.
 
The doubleheader sweep gave the Panthers three wins in their four games against Huston-Tillotson this season.
 
GAME ONE: Prairie View A&M 20, Huston-Tillotson 3
The Nos. 3, 4, and 5 hitters went 8-for-10 and knocked in 11 RBIs as the Panthers won for the third time in their last four home games.
 
Avalos went 3-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBIs to lead the Panthers offense. Grant Dougherty went 2-for-3 with a double four RBIs, while Cody Den Beste knocked a two-run home run as part of a 3-for-4 day.
 
The 20 runs scored by Prairie View A&M – the most by the Panthers in a game this season – was more than enough for starting pitcher Michael Dewey, who pitched a complete game en route to the seven-inning victory. In his second start of the season, Dewey (pictured) scattered four hits while striking out two batters as he posted his first win of the season.
 
Prairie View A&M scored five runs in the first inning, and then added six runs apiece in the third and sixth innings.
 
While the majority of the damage was done by the middle of the Panthers' lineup, Connor Wrye was productive at the end of the PVAMU lineup, going 2-for-5 with four RBIs and a triple.
 
Huston-Tillotson starting pitcher George Menzie pitched two and two-thirds innings while giving up six earned runs. He was credited with the loss.
 
GAME TWO: Prairie View A&M 14, Huston-Tillotson 5
The Panther bats did not slow down in the second game, as every starter collected at least one base hit. Den Beste went 4-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and three runs scored.
 
For the afternoon, Den Beste went 7-for-8 and knocked two doubles, a triple, and a home run.
 
Avalos and Joseph Mack picked up two hits apiece and drove in three runs each. Wrye went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Dougherty also knocked two base hits in the game.
 
Freshman Marlan Chatman had a game to remember when he knocked a home run in a pinch-hit appearance for his first collegiate hit.
 
Jordan Johnson picked up the win in relief for the Panthers, pitching two and two-thirds scoreless innings while striking out two batters.  Johnson relieved Phillip Gay, who pitched two and one-thirds innings.
 
Freshman Darrien Williams made his first mound appearance, giving up one run over two innings.
 
The Panthers return to action this weekend when they open a Southwestern Athletic Conference interdivisional series with Alcorn State. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon.