MONROE, La. – Prairie View A&M University softball team dropped its season-opener 10-0 to host team University of Louisiana Monroe in the first game of the Mardi Gras Classic.  In their second game of the day, PV fell to Sam Houston by a score of 7-5.
 
PV vs. ULM Game 1
 
Left field Keona Hunter, first baseman Kelsey Coronado and third baseman Kylar Ward-Flowers were the only Lady Panthers to post hits in the opener. 
 
PV vs. Sam Houston Game 2
 
Against Sam Houston, the Lady Panthers only posted two hits, however they were able to push across five runs, while Sam Houston turned its 12 hits into seven runs.
 
PV scored all five runs in the second inning starting with Ward-Flowers being hit by pitch and Tianna Thomas taking a free walk to first base.  Following a groundout and a walk to load the bases, Alyssa Garcia doubled down right center to give PV a 2-0 lead.  Garcia advanced to third and Ford scored on an error, while Shelby Williams made it to first. 
 
With a runner on third and first, Williams stole second and Keona Hunter  walked.  Following a pitching change,  before Destinee Williams walked, scoring Garcia making the score 4-0.  S.  Williams advance to second on a wild pitch, Hunter advanced to third, while S. Williams scored on a wild pitch as PVAMU took a 5-0 lead but were unable to maintain it to earn the win. 

For the second straight day, the Prairie View A&M University softball team was defeated in a pair of games at the Mardi Gras Classic.  The Lady Panthers was edged by Northwestern State 8-7 in their first game on Saturday morning before dropping a 4-1 contest versus Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville.

NWS 8, PVAMU 7
Northwestern opened the first frame 3-0 to begin the game.  PVAMU jumped on the board in frame two with a single up the middle by Keona Hunter advancing  Shelby Williams to second, which reached base on a fielder's choice, while Amanda Garcia advanced to third after hitting a single to get on base.  In the same series Amanda Ford scored as she was at the top of the batting order to give PV their first run.
 
PV posted two more runs in the top of the third to knot the game at three. Who scored  NWS scored three more runs to advance their lead to 6-3.  The Lady Panthers scored four runs in the sixth, to take a 7-6 lead.  Northwestern State closed out the sixth inning scoring two more runs to give them an 8-7 victory.
 
SIUE 4, PVAMU 1
After three scoreless frames to begin the game, SIUE took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4^th inning on a double down the lf line that started the inning.  PV responded in the bottom of the sixth to give them their only run of the game on a Kylar Ward-Flowers fly out to center field scoring Shelby Williams.  SIUE scored a finally time to end the game 4-1.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to the field when they face Houston Baptist for doubleheader action on Feb. 18^th in Houston.