A three-run first inning would hold up as Texas Southern claimed the series opener by a 5-2 margin Friday afternoon in Prairie View.

Four of the first five batters for TSU singled to open the first inning with the fourth single leading to a 1-0 TSU lead. With two outs in the inning, TSU's Kacey Creel hit a two-RBI single to right which gave them a 3-0 lead after the top of the first.

The Lady Panthers made a pitching change to open the second as freshman Ashley Higgins settled things down with a scoreless second. TSU added a run in the third to lead 4-0 while PVAMU had a frustrating day at the plate which saw them leave a total of nine runners left on base. In the third, PVAMU loaded the bases with only one out but struck out twice to end the threat,

PVAMU had another promising inning falter in the fifth as Briana Knowles was ruled out on a base running interference call which would've loaded the bases. A pair of sac bunts in the top of the seventh paved the way for an RBI single by TSU as PVAMU tried to battle back in the bottom of the seventh down 5-0 with a pair of RBIs from Knowles and Kelsey Coronado.

Shelby Williams finished 4-for-4 and a run followed by two hits from Daniesha Hinton.

The series concludes Saturday with a noon doubleheader as six seniors will be honored at the end of game two.