BOX SCORE MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Prairie View A&M softball team stayed alive in the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Softball Tournament by holding off Mississippi Valley with a 4-3 win.
 
The Lady Panthers struck first in their half of the first inning, after Keona Hunter singled up the middle and quickly stealing second.  Hunter advanced to third after Destinee Williams flew out to right field, and scoring on the ensuing at bat by Gabrielle Foncesa, as she grounded out to the short stop.
 
PVAMU added two more runs in their frame in the second.  Laurisa Hernandez singled to left field to open the frame for the Lady Panthers.  Alyssa Garcia struck next with a single to left field moving Hernandez to second.  After a sac bunt by Kylar Ward-Flowers, both runners advanced, Hernandez crossed home plate beating out the tag, after Amanda Ford hit a sac bunt.  Shelby Williams reached base on a walk to load the bases for Hunter, who flied out to left scoring Garcia to score the final run of the inning.
 
The Lady Panthers scored another run in the bottom of the third to take a 4-0 lead over the Devilettes.  Both Kelsey Coronado and Hernandez singled to put runners on first and second for PVAMU.  A single to left center by Ward-Flowers gave Coronado the go ahead to go home for another run. 
 
Valley threatened in both the fourth and fifth inning as they added three runs before pitcher Ashley Higgins came in to give the Lady Panthers the save and the team win. After pitching three innings Higgins struck out two players after facing only eight batters and allowing no runs.
 
Both Hernandez and Hunter had a pair of hits. Vannessa Castro allowed six hits and three runs, earning the win after pitching 4.0 innings.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to action in the SWAC Tournament on Friday, May 11 at 9 a.m. to face the loser of the Texas Southern and Alabama A&M game.
 
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