PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M softball team had a couple of clutch hits on their way to a 7-1 victory over Grambling State to sweep the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference series Sunday at the PVAMU Softball Field.
 
With the win, the Lady Panthers (10-16) move to an 8-3 conference record.  Grambling's record fell to 10-25 and 0-13 in the SWAC.
 
The clutch hits came from Alyssa Garcia and Alexis Freeman in the early innings, supported by a solid pitching effort from Ashley Higgins.
 
Higgins earned the win, allowing five hits, and one run.  She struck out three, and not allowing a single batter to walk.
 
Garcia delivered a double to left field in the second inning, giving the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.  She scored after Brianna Grays reached first on an error.
 
In the bottom half of the fourth on one out and a runner on second, Garcia homered to left center to advance the Lady Panthers lead to 3-0. 
 
PVAMU added a score in the fifth as DayZjah Pennywell doubled down the left line to open the frame.  Alexis Freeman delivered a shot to the shortstop advancing to second, before scoring Pennywell.
 
Grambling's lone run came in the top of the sixth before the Lady Panthers closed out their half of the inning. Laurissa Hernandez singled to the shortstop to open the inning.  With no outs, Garcia ripped a single up the middle, before Grays singled to the shortstop to score pinch runner Cameron Lavergne, who replaced Hernandez earlier in the frame advancing the PVAMU lead 4-1.
 
Amanda Ford grounded out to catcher on sac bunt, scoring Shelby Williams who replaced Garcia on the base path. In her last at bat Pennywell singled to left center scoring Grays to give the Lady Panthers a 7-1 victory.
 
The Prairie View A&M softball team will return to action on Tuesday, when they host Texas A&M Corpus Christi in doubleheader action, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. at the PVAMU Softball Field.