MADISON, Ala. - Kyle Smith was determined to finish what he started as he pitched the Panthers to a 2-0 win over the Alcorn State Braves (6-19) Wednesday night during the opening day of the 2021 Cricket Wireless SWAC Tournament at the Toyota Field in Madison, Ala.

How it Happened:
The Panthers scored once in the fourth and seventh innings and Smith tossed a complete-game, allowing only two hits in the first round of the 2021 SWAC Baseball Tournament.
 
Freshman Benjamin Ybarra started the fourth inning off by reaching base on a fielding error.  Next up to bat was junior Andrew Martinez who singled through the left side advancing Ybarra to second.  Martinez stole base forcing Ybarra to the hot corner, but instead of halting there he advanced home to score on an error by the catcher to put the Panthers ahead 1-0.
 
A drive into the power alley down the right field line by senior Andrew Garcia opened the scoring in the seventh inning for the Panthers.  Garcia moved the third base pad off of a wild pitch by Alcorn's pitcher Jose Fernandez.  After a walk by senior Tyler Gordon and two runners on the corners, junior Demarie Smith grounded out on a sac bunt to advance Garcia home and Gordon to second giving the Panthers their final run of the game and a 2-0 victory over the Braves.

The No. 1 seeded Panthers (13-16) advance to the winner's bracket final to play west third seeded Southern (16-27) Thursday at 6 p.m., at Toyota Field.
 
The games can be watched live on the SWAC Digital Network.  Live stats will also be provided.  All can be found on pvpanthers.com gameday central.
 
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