IRONDALE, Ala. - Alcorn State scored three runs over the final two innings of play to defeat Prairie View A&M 3-1 in the opener of the 2016 SWAC Softball Tournament at the Shea Brothers Softball Complex.

With every pitch in the tourney of the utmost importance, the Lady Panthers dropped a prime opportunity to move ahead in the top of the first as the first two runners moved into scoring position with no outs. However, ASU's starter Ashley Breal recovered and recorded two straight strikeouts and a flyout to end the threat.

PVAMU frehsman Ashley Higgins held her own as she shut down ASU early and PVAMU cracked the ice first in the fifth as Co-Freshman of the Year Shelby Williams singled with two outs, stole second, stole third and scored on Briana Knowles' clutch bunt single for the 1-0 lead.

The lead was brief as ASU hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth and tacked on two more runs in the sixth with an RBI double. The lead would hold for good as PVAMU went scorless in the seventh.

Daniesha Hinton led PVAMU with a 2-for-2 outing and also drew two walks. Higgins strick out four and allowed five hits.

PVAMU will play Mississippi Valley State in an elimination game tomorrow at 5 p.m.