PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M baseball team (9-14, 9-6 SWAC) topped Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a Saturday doubleheader at Tankersley Field, winning 8-1 in game one and 11-8 in game two.

"For the past five games, we've been clicking on all cylinders. We've gotten the pitching, the defense and the quality at-bats we need when guys are in scoring position," PVAMU Head Baseball Coach Auntwan Riggins said. "Today, we took advantage of (UAPB's) mistakes, and in the past we have been unable to do that against teams. Of course, we have to clean up our own mistakes and be ready to compete Sunday, because we know UAPB will be ready."

How it Happened:
GAME 1 (PVAMU won 8-1): The Panthers got started early thanks to a RBI single from Brayden Johnson that scored Demarie' Smith. Johnson later scored thanks to an error from UAPB pitcher Jordan Jones to make it 2-0. From there, PVAMU starting pitcher Kyle Smith began to cruise, keeping the Golden Lions off the scoreboard sans one run in the fourth inning. The Panthers responded with a pair of runs in the fifth and put the game away with a four-run surge in the seventh inning. Smith and Tre Turner had three hits each and combined for five RBI. Smith scattered six hits over 7.2 innings of work, striking out five to improve to 3-2 on the year.

GAME 2 (PVAMU won 11-8): The Panthers appeared set to run away with matters after going ahead 4-0 after two innings, thanks in large part to a two-run double by Smith. However, UAPB tied the game in the third inning. The sides traded runs in the fourth inning, and the Panthers proceeded to overwhelm the Golden Lions' pitching as Xavier Jefferson belted a two-run triple to right field in the fifth inning to make it 7-5, and Benjamin Ybarra scored Jefferson on a RBI base hit. Jefferson added another triple in the seventh inning during a three-run spurt from the Panthers resulting in an 11-5 advantage. The senior has reached safely in seven of his past eight games.

"That's Xavier for the past four years," Riggins said." He tends to start slow and always picks it up during the second half of the season. He was locked in, and he caused havoc on the base-paths. He's such an offensive threat because he can hit for power or contact, and when he's on base, he's trouble. I'm glad to see it."

UAPB managed three runs in the ninth, but Dalton Acosta was able to slam the door on the Golden Lions' comeback hopes. The Panthers now look for their second sweep in as many weekends, with first pitch of game three set for 1 p.m. Sunday.

"To be honest with you, our guys have to want it. Today, they wanted it," Riggins said. "We executed our situational hitting in all phases, and if we continue to do that, we have a chance to win any game. We've worked on that all year, and it's starting to come together. As the saying goes, better late than never."

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