GULFPORT, Miss. – The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers rallied in the 10^th inning to take a 3-2 win over Alabama State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship as head softball coach Vernon Bland's Lady Panthers head to the 2022 Championship game on Friday, May 13 at 2 p.m.
 
"This was another game that we had to come back and fight for," said Bland.  "These kids will never quit.  I kept telling the ladies to stay with us and we will have a chance to win this game and we did."
 
How it happened:

• Both teams entered the contest as the only undefeated teams left in the tournament.  In a fight to the finish semi-final contest Alabama State opened the first inning with one run. 
• Through six and a half scoreless innings the Lady Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the seventh on a Jerrica Rojas sac fly to left field to knot the game at 1-1.
• The extended eighth and ninth innings were scoreless.  Alabama State scored a run in the top of the 10^th to make it a 2-1 advantage for the Lady Hornets.
• Because of the international softball rule Brelyn Senegal was placed on second to lead off the Lady Panthers half of the inning.  Natalie McLennan singled a bunt to advance Destinee Smith to second after she reached first off of an error.  This made the bases loaded for Audrey Garcia, with no outs for the Lady Panthers.  A single to center field was all that was needed as PVAMU took advantage and scored two runs to take the 3-2 victory and a bid for the 2022 SWAC Championship crown.
• Cailin Massey earned the win on the mound, going the full distance for the Lady Panthers.  Garcia led the Lady Panthers offense going 2-4 with two RBI's.

PVAMU will return to action at 2 p.m. at the Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.  They will face the winner of the Jackson State and Alabama State game that will be played at 10 a.m.
 
Fans can watch the action live on the SWAC Digital Network.
 
Keep up with all the latest news and information for PVAMU athletics by following pvpanthers.com as well as through Twitter via the PVAMU general sports account (@PVAMUPanthers). You can also follow along on Instagram.com/pvamupanthers.