NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Prairie View A&M baseball team lost a late lead in losing its 2018 season opener to Alabama State 8-7 Friday night in the Andre Dawson Classic.
Corbin Jamison homered, Ezekiel Bear went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Andrew Garcia went 2-for-4, and Calvin Rucker went 2-for-4 for the Panthers (0-1).
PVAMU took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first on a solo homer by Jamison to left field on a 1-0 pitch.
Prairie View A&M extended to a 2-0 lead in the fourth. With one out, Bear singled to right and scored on a double to center by
Avery Williams.
After Alabama State (1-0) tied the score in the top of the fifth, the Panthers regained the lead in their half of the inning at 3-2 on a double to center by Garcia, scoring
Daniel Lingua who led off with a walk.
Prairie View A&M added a pair of runs in the sixth. Bear led off with a double to left field, and advanced to third on a groundout.
Steven Williams' single to center scored Bear. With two outs, Williams scored on an error to give the Panthers a 5-2 lead.
The Hornets tied the game with three runs in the seventh before PVAMU went back ahead in the home seventh. With one out,
Tyler Gordon singled and advanced to second on a balk. Rucker's single to center scored Gordon. Bear then singled to right field, moving Rucker to third.
Xavier Jefferson's sacrifice fly scored Rucker to give the Panthers a 7-5 lead.
Prairie View A&M returns to action facing Alcorn State Saturday at 3 p.m. at the University of New Orleans' Privateer Park.
