PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Senior Kyle Smith hurled a complete-game shutout as the Prairie View A&M baseball team took care of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6-0 during Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Friday afternoon at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.

The Panthers (3-12, 1-3 SWAC) jumped on top of UAPB in the second inning as freshman Brayden Johnson led off the frame with a single, later scoring on a RBI double by freshman Zachary Trevino. The Golden Lions (4-10, 1-3 SWAC) threatened in their half of the frame with runners on second and third with two out, but Smith fanned Jarficur Parker to escape the inning unharmed.

With Smith dealing early on, the Panthers added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning thanks to some small ball. Trevino laid down a bunt to reach first, and after UAPB started Rocky King struck sophomore Kellen Rogers with an errant pitch, senior Tyler Gordon loaded the bases with a bunt of his own.

There, sophomore Alex Martinez cashed in with a two-run single to third that scored Trevino and Rogers. Junior Calvin Rucker moved over Gordon and Martinez with a sacrifice bunt, and Johnson drew a walk on a wild pitch that scored Gordon and ultimately chased King from the mound. The Panthers scratched another run across on an error to go ahead 5-0.

Rogers later added a RBI triple in the top of the eighth for the final margin.

Smith struck out 10 batters, allowing six hits. Trevion, Johnson and Rogers each had two hits.

Next Up:
The Panthers look to make it two in a row when they face UAPB tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.