WACO, Texas - The Prairie View A&M softball team (3-6) advanced to the championship game of the Baylor-hosted Getterman Classic 2-2 after taking down Grand Canyon 9-3 and Western Illinois 8-7.
 
Game 1: PVAMU 9, GCU 3
 
A strong start in the first inning gave the Lady Panthers the early boost they needed to carry them throughout the game. With the bases loaded, a single from sophomore Serena Antone pushed junior Alexis Freeman home for an early 1-0 lead. Senior Gabrielle Fonseca followed with a bases-clearing double to bring home senior Alyssa Garcia, redshirt senior Daneisha Hinton and Antone for a 4-0 lead
 
GCU responded with three wins at the top of the second, but a RBI single from sophomore Ryleigh Love scored sophomore Diavionne Dewalt, and Freeman added an inside-the-park home run as Prairie View A&M scored five unanswered runs on its way to victory.
 
Freeman went 2-for-3 with three runs. Dewalt scored two runs. Redshirt senior Crystal Castillo (1-2) took the win, allowing only five hits allowed throughout seven innings.
 
Game 2: PVAMU 8, WIU 7
 
The Lady Panthers got the bats cooking early as Garcia singled home Freeman and Fonseca delivered a two-run single. However, the Leathernecks responded with three runs of their own to tie the game.
 
After a scoreless second inning, freshman Kyra Lunford slapped a RBI double to bring in senior Cameron Lavergne, and Dewalt scored Lunford on a single for a 5-3 Lady Panthers lead but Western Illinois jumped in front with four runs in the bottom of the third.
 
Prairie View A&M stormed ahead for good in the fourth, as Fonseca, senior Cameron Lavergne and Lunford delivered RBI singles to overcome the deficit. Sophomore Deja Tapia did the rest, working four scoreless innings to earn the victory.
 
Lavergne went 4-for-4 at the plate, while Fonseca went 3-for-4. Lunford and Dewalt each had a pair of hits.
 
Next Up:
The Lady Panthers face host Baylor for the Getterman Classic championship Sunday at 12:30 p.m.