GRAMBLING, La. — The Prairie View A&M University softball team has won nine consecutive games, including the three game weekend sweep series over Southwestern Athletic opponent Grambling State defeating them in two run-ruled games 11-2 (Friday) and 8-0 on Saturday. In the final game of the series the teams went the distance with the Lady Panthers coming out on top with a 10-4 victory.
PVAMU is reaching upon one of its best seasons under coach Vernon Bland since 2013 when they finished with a 19-23 overall season and 7-9 finish in the league. The Lady Panthers are currently 18-19 overall and 10-2 in the conference.
Game 1, Prairie View A&M 11, Grambling 2
The Lady Panthers jumped on board in the top of the first, when centerfielder Shelby Williams scored on a pass ball after reaching base on a single. The Tigers also scored in their half of the frame knotting the score 1-1.
PVAMU brought out the bats in the top of the second as Alyssa Garcia singled and S. Williams shortly came behind her with two outs on a single scoring Garcia. S. Williams stole two consecutive bases, before Briana Knowles doubled scoring S. Williams. Destinee Williams hit a two-run homer to put the Lady Panthers up 5-1.
The next innings were scoreless, before PVAMU tacked on another run in the fourth. Kylar Ward-Flowers singled scoring Kellady Johnson who reached base on error in the top of the inning. Grambling was able to add on to their run making the score 6-2 at the bottom of fifth.
In the top of frame six the bats caught fire again as S. Williams singled and stole two consecutive bases, before Knowles hit a single this time, scoring S. Williams. Laurisa Hernandez singled scoring both Knowles and D. Williams who landed on base after being hit by pitch. Kelsey Coronado also singled, before A. Garcia singled loading the bases for Amanda Ford who singled and scored Tiana Thomas, who came in to pitch run for Hernandez. Johnson singled scoring Coronado to make the score 11-2 and close the game out in six innings for a run-ruled contest.
Game 2, Prairie View 8, Grambling 0
In the opening end of Saturday's doubleheader, the Lady Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first off of D. Williams single to right center that scored S. Williams, who singled to third earlier to put her on base. PVAMU grabbed another big inning in the second off of a double to left center by A. Garcia. Although Johnson grounded out to the shortstop Garcia was able to score advancing the lead 2-0.
On their next at bats, S. Williams reached based on an error and Knowles drew a walk, before S. Williams scored on another error to make the score 3-0. D. Williams singled to left center scoring Knowles on a 2-2 count. Hernandez homered over the center field fence scoring Ward-Flowers, who reached base on a walk and D. Williams closing the inning out with a 7-0 lead.
The Lady Panthers scored a run in the fifth on a Knowles sac fly to left field scoring Brooke Dibler who stepped in to pinch run for Ford, who reached base on a walk closing the game out on another run-ruled contest with an 8-0 score and a two game lead.
Game 3, Prairie View 10, Grambling 4
PVAMU's momentum carried right into the second game, as the Lady Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first and stretched the lead 3-1 in the second. Knowles earned the first run after singling and stealing her 18th base of the season. Ward-Flowers sent Knowles home on a single in frame one.
Grambling knotted the score 1-1 in the bottom of the second, but the Lady Panthers came right back and scored two more runs. A. Garcia homered and S. Williams singled on a bunt scoring Kiara Ross, who reached base on a double earlier in the frame.
PVAMU scored again in the third when Ross singled to right center scoring Coronado, who landed on base hitting a single to right field. The Lady Panthers advanced its lead to 4-1. Grambling bounced back trying to keep the game close, scoring a run in the bottom of the frame.
The Lady Panthers tacked on another run in the fourth to take a 5-2 advantage. Knowles scored after stealing second and third bases and advancing home on the throw, after she reached base on a walk. With two scoreless innings the Lady Panthers tacked on two more runs, after Ward-Flowers singled to right field scoring S. Williams, who reached base on a bunt single. On a fly out to center field by Hernandez, D. Williams scored after she reached base on a bunt single.
PVAMU scored two more runs in the sixth when Ward-Flowers singled to right field scoring S. Williams. S. Williams singled in the top of the inning. Hernandez hit another sac fly scoring D. Williams. Grambling was able to add a run in the bottom of the six to make the score 7-3.
The seventh inning saw both teams scoring, but the outcome was in favor of the Lady Panthers as they scored three more runs off of A. Garcia, who scored on a pass ball, and Natalie McLennan scored on a Knowles single to right center. McLennan reached base on a single earlier in the inning. S. Williams came across the plate on a sac fly by D. Williams for a final score taking a 10-4 victory.
Prairie View A&M University softball team will return to the field on Tuesday when they host Houston Baptist in doubleheader action starting at 1 p.m. at the PVAMU Softball Complex. Fans will be able to listen live and get play-by-play updates on pvpanthers. Com.
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