PRAIRIE VIEW A&M - The Prairie View A&M 2018 SWAC Softball Championship team enjoyed some home cooking as it opened its 2019 home schedule with a 9-3 win, in the first of their three game series against Jackson State on Friday at the PVAMU Softball Stadium.
 
"We started off slow," head softball coach Vernon Bland said. "I think we were a little nervous because this was our home opener, and the first time we've played at home since last April. But finally our best came around, and we ended up getting a win. That's all that matters."
 
A home run in the bottom half of the first frame by senior Destinee Williams opened up the scoring for the Lady Panthers to give them a 1-0 lead.
 
The second inning was pretty much scoreless for both teams, before the Lady Tigers earned a run in their half of the third inning knotting the score at 1-1.
 
Junior Cameron Lavergne gave PVAMU their second home run of the game in the fourth inning, as the team led 2-1 over JSU. Senior Day'Zjah Pennywell doubled to left field, before a ground out from junior Alyssa Garcia sending Pennywell to third. Junior Gabrielle Fonseca was walked, and eventually stole second base, sending Pennywell home for the team's fourth home touch taking a 3-1 lead over the Lady Tigers.
 
D. Williams opened the fifth by reaching base due to an infielder's error.  Senior Laurisa Hernandez singled up the middle to move D. Williams, after she had already stole second.   Freshman Megan Jimenez also reached base on an error scoring D. Williams and giving the Lady Panthers' it's lone score in the bottom half of the inning, to take a 4-1 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers scored twice in their half of the sixth for a 4-3 score, with the Lady Panthers still on top. 
 
The bottom frame of the sixth is where it got a little interesting for PVAMU, with Pennywell tripling to left field to get the scoring started.  Fonseca moved Pennywell across the plate, after hitting a single RBI to left field. Freshman Diavionne Dewalt doubled to center field and was able to advance to third, also allowing Fonseca to touch home plate. Freshman Kaila Lee stepped in for the senior Shelby Williams to pinch hit.  Lee singled to third scoring Fonseca.  S. Williams replaced Lee for some base running action, stealing second base and advanced to third right after.  Dewalt was able to run in for a score during this segment.  The third home run of the game was hit by Hernandez, who also brought in S. Williams to complete the team's five-run inning, and take the game 9-3.
 
Pitcher Crystal Castillo took the win with only five hits allowed on 30 batters faced. Hernandez had three hits on the day, and led with 2 RBI.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to the field on Saturday, March 23 starting at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader to complete the series against JSU.