PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Grant Dougherty's late-game heroics in game two Saturday lifted the Prairie View A&M Panthers to a 9-8 win and a doubleheader split with Alcorn State.
 
The visiting Braves won the first game by a score of 7-2.
 
Dougherty's two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning of a back-and-forth game two reclaimed a 9-8 lead for the Panthers (13-31), who won for the fifth time over their previous seven home games. Josh Jefferson started the rally with a two-out Texas League single that resulted from a fielder miscommunication.
 
After the home run, Dougherty (pictured) returned to the mound in the top of the ninth to finish his relief appearance and improve to 2-0 on the season. Dougherty pitched two and one-thirds scoreless innings, scattering three hits.
 
Dougherty's teammates helped seal the win in the top of the ninth. With one out and runners on first second, Dougherty induced Moses Charles into a ground ball up the middle. Second baseman Kevin Macias fielded it cleanly, flipped the ball to shortstop Jefferson, who tagged second base for the first out and then relayed a throw to first baseman Carson Lee to narrowly beat Charles and give the Panthers the win.
 
The seven RBIs recorded by the Panthers were split among three players. Dougherty knocked in three runs, while Joseph Mack and Jordan Jeanlouis drove in two runs apiece.
 
Jordan Stewart started and pitched six and two-thirds innings for the Panthers, striking out five in the process.
 
Alcorn State freshman Jahborus Smith took the loss after giving up the home run to Dougherty during his lone inning of work. Smith had been in line for the save after teammate Cedric Bell pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing only three Panther hits and no earned runs.
 
The Braves took an early 3-0 lead when their first two batters of the game reached base prior to Connor Carroll hitting a home run before the Panthers could record an out. Prairie View A&M scored two of its own in the bottom half of the inning when Mack knocked a bases-loaded single to score Dougherty and Edward Robledo.
 
Prairie View A&M would tie the game in the bottom of the second when Dougherty's sacrifice fly to right scored Jefferson.
 
By the end of the third inning, the Panthers claimed a 6-4 lead when Jeanlouis doubled home Cody Den Beste and Mack; Jeanlouis would later come home on a wild pitch from Alcorn starter Nick Brooks.
 
The Braves scored four unanswered runs of their own during the middle innings to take an 8-6 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Jeanlouis knocked a triple and then came home on the same play thanks to a throwing error on the putout attempt.
 
Kevin Macias knocked three hits in the game for the Pathers.
 
In the opening game, the Braves knocked three home runs, including two during a five-run second inning as they went on to a 7-2 victory.
 
Alcorn State pitcher Colton Laird earned the complete-game victory on the mound for the Braves. Alberto Aveytia absorbed the loss for the Panthers.
 
Mack and Jeanlouis knocked in runs for the Panthers. Teammate David Drake went 2-for-2 with a double after entering the game as a pinch-hitter.
 
The Panthers and Braves conclude their series Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.