GULFPORT, Miss. --The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 2-1 victory over the Jackson State Lady Tigers on Tuesday.

Junior Jerrica Rojas (8-1) got the win for Prairie View A&M (27-18). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out one.

"I am not sure if we were just a little nervous or what," said head softball coach Vernon Bland.  "Jerrica pitched a great game, but we left too many runners on.  I'd rather be 1-0 than 0-1."

Offensively, the Lady Panthers were paced by freshman Maya Barnes, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a double, a walk, and an RBI. Junior Brandi Juarez compiled a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Sophomore Rayna Lewis also contributed for Prairie View A&M, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lady Panthers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Prairie View A&M got an RBI single from Lewis, scoring Juarez from second base.

The Lady Tigers failed to push any runs across before the Lady Panther's offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Prairie View A&M pushed across a run on Barnes' one-out RBI double, which brought the Lady Panther's lead to 2-0. Jackson State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Prairie View A&M still held on for the 2-1 win.

Prairie View A&M will return to the diamond when they face the No. 2 seed in the East Bethune-Cookman who defeated #3 west seed Texas Southern in the morning affair 6-0. 

GAME NOTES

» Prairie View A&M's highest-scoring inning was the second when it pushed one run across.
» Prairie View A&M grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Lady Panthers out-hit the Lady Tigers at a 6-4 clip.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers faced 25 Jackson State hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out one.
» The Lady Panthers drew seven walks from Jackson State pitching.
» Barnes led the Lady Panthers at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
» Jackson State was led offensively by junior Samiyyah Huckabee, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
» Senior Macie Kuppenbender led the Lady Tigers pitching staff, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings.