PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --Junior Victor Mendoza was mowing people down on Saturday, fanning nine Alcorn State hitters over eight innings of work, but it was not enough as the Prairie View A&M Panthers fell to the Braves 13-10.
In addition to his nine strikeouts, Mendoza went eight innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on eight hits and walking two for Prairie View A&M (15-23, 11-5).
Sophomore Blake Redman led the way offensively for the Panthers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double, a home run, a walk and two RBI. Freshman Ahmar Donatto provided a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Senior Alex Martinez also contributed, going 1-for-5 for Prairie View A&M with a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Sophomore Garrison Weiss came across to score the lone run of the inning for Prairie View A&M and get them on the board.
The Panthers lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 2-1. Redman came across to score the lone run of the inning for Prairie View A&M, which evened the score at 2-2.
That 2-2 tie turned into a 3-2 Prairie View A&M lead in the seventh. The Panthers scored a run on Redman's one-out solo home run off freshman K. Braziel.
Prairie View A&M surrendered the lead they built in the seventh, but got back on the board in the eighth trailing 4-3. The Panthers scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Donatto and a two-run single from freshman Marshal Jonas, bringing the Prairie View A&M advantage to 9-4.
Alcorn State then mounted a comeback, taking a 13-9 lead heading into the tenth, when the Panthers cut that deficit to 13-10. Prairie View A&M pushed across a run on Redman's RBI double. The Panthers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Mendoza fanned nine Braves hitters.
» Prairie View A&M's power output was led by Redman, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Prairie View A&M's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers faced 50 Alcorn State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Panthers drew 10 walks from Alcorn State pitching.
» Redman led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
» Alcorn State was led offensively by sophomore Jr. Banks, who went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI.
» Braziel led the Braves pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.
