PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M Panthers hit nine extra-base hits off Wiley College pitchers Sunday en route to a 20-10 victory over the visiting Wildcats.
Cody Den Beste (pictured) and
Angel Avalos knocked five RBIs apiece as the Panthers (8-17) completed a two-game sweep over Wiley College and remained undefeated home.
Prairie View A&M lost an early 7-1 when the Wildcats scored four runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth, but the Panthers reclaimed control by scoring 13 unanswered runs.
Den Beste hit a solo home run – his first home run of the season – in addition to hitting triples in his two at-bats. Avalos hit a grand slam as part of a six-run PVAMU seventh inning.
Phillip Gay picked up his first win of the season for the Panthers, pitching one inning of relief.
Edward Robledo posted his third save of the season, pitching three innings and striking out one batter after entering the game with the Panthers holding an 11-7 lead.
Robledo also benefitted from some impressive defense from his infield teammates. With Wiley's potentially dangerous bats trying to erase PVAMU's then 17-7 lead, the Wildcats placed their first two batters on base in the top of the eighth inning. Darian Flemming then lined a Robledo pitch right to shortstop
Kevin Macias. Wasting no time, Macias took a few steps to tag second base and retire leadoff hitter Trevor Spear before tossing the ball to Avalos at first to get Oswaldo Palacios out and completing the triple play.
Every Panther in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit.
Shannon Washington went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and four runs scored. Den Beste went 4-for-6 at the plate, while
Josh Jefferson and
Jaron Hicks both went 2-for-4. Jefferson hit an RBI bunt single to score
Josh Wells from second base while the Wildcats lost track of the play.
Josh Wells collected three hits for the Panthers.
Santiago Rojas recorded his first hit in a Prairie View A&M uniform, and it turned out to be a memorable moment. Rojas came up as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, and a he knocked a three-RBI double to left-centerfield.
The Panthers return to Southwestern Athletic Conference play this weekend when they welcome Texas Southern to Tankersley Field for a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.
