PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --Senior Victor Mendoza was mowing people down on Saturday, striking out eight Grambling hitters over 4.1 innings of work, but it was not enough as the Prairie View A&M Panthers fell to the Tigers 14-12.
In addition to his eight strikeouts, Mendoza threw 4.1 innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits and walking four for Prairie View A&M (13-19, 4-7).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Panthers first put runs on the board in the first inning. Prairie View A&M plated two runs off of Grambling pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of sophomore Michael Burroughs.
The Tigers then rallied to score six runs and take a 7-2 lead before the Panthers got back on the board in the third. Prairie View A&M picked up two runs when a single from junior Jadin Moreno scored junior Jayden Williams and Burroughs, which tightened the Tigers lead to 7-4.
Grambling built their lead to 10-4 before the Prairie View A&M offense got going, reducing that lead to 10-8 in the fourth. The Panthers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run triple off the bat of Williams.
The Tigers expanded their lead to 13-8 before the Prairie View A&M offense got back in action, biting into that lead in the seventh. Williams crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Panthers, bringing the score to 13-9 in favor of Grambling.
The Panthers held the Tigers off the scoredboard before getting within 13-12 in the eighth. Prairie View A&M scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run single off the bat of Moreno. The Panthers were unable to get any closer, as Grambling added one run to their tally on the way to a 14-12 final.
GAME NOTES
» The Panthers got three-hit games from both Williams and Moreno.
» Mendoza fanned eight Tigers hitters.
» The Panthers got a power surge from Williams, who contributed three extra base knocks.
» Williams drove in four runs for the Panthers.
» Panthers pitchers combined to strike out 12 Grambling hitters.
» Prairie View A&M's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Panthers swiped five bases as a team.
» Prairie View A&M went 5-for-15 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers limited Grambling to just 4-for-21 (.190) with runners in scoring position.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers faced 54 Grambling hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Panthers drew nine walks from Grambling pitching.
» Williams led the Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, two triples and four RBI.
» Grambling was led offensively by senior Demarckus Smiley, who went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and three RBI.
» Senior Miguel Baez led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing three innings of one-run ball.
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