PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - The Prairie View A&M Baseball team fell 12-8 in game one of their three-game series against Southern on Saturday at Tankersley Field.
 
The Jaguars opened the scoring up early, placing two runs on the board in the top of the first.

The Panther's responded with two runs of their own tying the game at 2-2.  Daniel Lingua began the base pad running with a single to left field and stealing second, while Tyler Gordon was at bat.   Gordon singled to left field putting Lingua in scoring position.  On a sac fly from Alex Martinez the Panthers placed their first run on the board.  A bunt single from Xavier Jefferson brought in Gordon for a game tying run.
 
Southern posted five more runs on the board advancing their score with a 7-2 lead in the top of the second.  The Jaguars also scored two more runs in their half of the third taking a 9-2 lead.   
 
The Panthers managed to score a run in the bottom half of the third, when Martinez landed on base off of a single to left field.  Dalton Horner came right behind him hitting a single down right field line advancing Martinez to third base. In the next play, Jefferson hit into a double play that brought in Martinez and cut the team's deficit down to 9-3.
 
The Panthers played catchup up through two innings as they found themselves trailing 11-4 after six innings.  The Panthers started to claw back into the game in the bottom of the eighth.  After a pitching change Jefferson was walked to begin the scoring for the Panthers.  Calvin Rucker singled to right center advancing Jefferson to second.  Jefferson stole third, putting him in scoring position.  On a fielder's choice Kellen Rodgers singled up the middle and was able to advance to second base on the throw, scoring Jefferson.
 
Andrew Garcia singled to right field, with Damarie Smith taking a free walk to load the bases.  Lingua reached base on another fielder's choice, scoring Rodgers and sending the team into the ninth inning down 11-6.
 
The Jaguars responded with a run in the top of the ninth advancing their score to 12-6.  The pesky Panthers began what looked like could have been a rally.  Starting with a single to left field from Horner, which ushered Martinez in for the team's first run of the final inning. Rucker repeated the play with a similar hit to left field that allowed Horner to score. Despite posting these two runs, PVAMU wasn't able to close the four run gap before ultimately falling 12-8.
 
Jefferson, Rodgers and Martinez all went 2-for-4 at bat.  Both Jefferson and Rodgers also gathered two RBI apiece. Jefferson and Martinez also scored two runs each.
 
The series against Southern will continue on Sunday, May 5 with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.  The Panthers will celebrate their seniors prior to the first game at Tankersley Field.