PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – A pair of five-run innings and Ashley Higgins' second no-hitter capped off Prairie View A&M softball's Tuesday doubleheader sweep over Huston Tilloston 11-3 and 8-0 at the PVAMU Softball Complex.
Game 1 - PVAMU 11, HTU 3 (5 inn.): The Rams led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning before Lady Panther Kylar Ward-Flowers knotted the game at 1-1 with a home run right field.
PVAMU allowed the Rams to score in the top half of the third to regain the lead 3-1. In the bottom of the third with two runners on base Briana Knowles homered over the center field fence and the deluge of runs began as the Lady Panthers took a 4-3 lead.
After a solid fourth inning the Lady Panthers struck again with Laurisa Hernandez doubling down the left line. With Hernandez at second Alyssa Garcia hit a two-run homer to move the count to 6-3. Amanda Ford followed with a single to right field, Kellady Johnson was walked and Shelby Williams single up the middle loaded the bases for the Lady Panthers. Knowles (2-for-3, four RBI) singled to right center to advance the score 7-3. On an attempt to make it around to third center fielder S. Williams was called out, but not before Johnson crossed the plate to close the inning out.
Heading into the fifth with a 9-3 lead, the Lady Panthers needed two more runs in order to get the victory and close the game out in five innings. After a H-T pitching change, Ward-Flowers opened the frame with a double to right field, before Hernandez singled to left to send Ward-Flowers home. Kelsey Coronado doubled to center to score Tianna Thomas, who ran for Hernandez, across the plate. Ford, who finished with two hits and an RBI, singled to right field to bring in the final run.
Game 2 - PVAMU 8, HTU 0 (5 inn.) In the nightcap, Higgins struck out three, walked one and hit a batter in throwing her second no-hitter in nine days.
The scoring barrage continued for the Lady Panthers as they opened the first inning. S. Williams opened the frame with a bunt, followed by Knowles with another bunt to move Williams around to third after she had stole second. After Destinee Williams was walked and the bases loaded, Hernandez's walk pushed S. Williams across the plate. With two outs and the bases still loaded A. Garcia's grand slam made it 5-0.
Prairie View A&M would score two more runs in the bottom of the third on a second home run by A. Garcia to score Thomas who pinch ran for Hernandez after a single down the left field line to make the score 7-0.
The Lady Panthers scored the final run in the fourth with Knowles opening the frame singling down left, before D. Williams doubled to centerfield pushing Knowles across the plate to shut the Rams out and give PVAMU the 8-0 win.
Prairie View A&M softball will return to action when the team host Southern for a three game weekend series starting Friday at 3 p.m. at the PVAMU Softball Complex.
