Big innings hurt the PVAMU softball team as Texas Southern won Saturday's doubleheader at the Lady Panther Softball Field on Saturday.
In game one, a three-run first inning and a sixth-inning grand slam by TSU was enough to keep PVAMU at bay as a late rally fell short in an 11-9 loss.
TSU scored three runs with two outs in the first for an early 3-0 lead and upped its lead to 5-0 in the third on a squeeze and PVAMU fielding error.
Despite the setbacks, PVAMU would fight back as Kelsey Coronado hit a two-RBI double followed by Regan McIlvena's RBI single for a 5-3 deficit after three innings of action. A TSU fielding error led to PVAMU trimming the gap to 5-4 in the fourth but a two-RBI single by TSU in the fifth moved them ahead 7-4.
With one out in the sixth, TSU loaded the bases and issued a potential game-ending blow as Krystalani Yockman hit a grand slam for an 11-4 lead. The Lady Panthers overcame the momentum swing in the bottom frame and fought back with a five-run inning as Briana Knowles hit a two-RBI single along with McIlvena's three-run homer. PVAMU had the tying and potential game-winning run at the plate three batters later but grounded out to end the inning. The Lady Panthers had another opportunity to tie in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and no outs but couldn't capitalize as TSU forced two groundouts to end the game.
McIlvena finished the game with a 3-for-3 outing and four RBIs while Shelby Williams, Deneisha Hinton and Knowles had two hits each.
A three-run double in the sixth was the difference as TSU claimed game two with a 6-4 comeback win.
TSU moved ahead 1-0 in the first and upped its margin to 3-0 after scoring runs in the third and fourth frames.
Once again, the Lady Panthers fought back and came out on top as Knowles hit a three-run homer over the center field wall followed by Daneisha Hinton's solo homer to give PVAMU its first lead over TSU in the series after five innings of action.
In the sixth, TSU loaded the bases with no outs but PVAMU forced two consecutive outs until a three-run double moved the score back in favor of TSU 6-4. In the seventh, PVAMU had its first two batters reach base but the Lady Panthers hit into an untimely double play followed by a game-ending strikeout.
Knowles led the way with a three-RBI performance while Monica Cartwright went the distance with a pair of strikeouts.
PVAMU is back in action Tuesday versus HBU at 1 p.m. for its home finale.
