GAME 2 | Prairie View A&M 6, Alcorn State 2
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas --The Prairie View A&M Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 6-2 victory over the Alcorn State Braves on Saturday.
Senior Victor Mendoza (3-4) started on the mound and picked up the win for Prairie View A&M (29-24, 18-9). The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out one. Senior Devin Aguado also made an impact on the mound for the Panthers, throwing two shutout innings while allowing two hits.
In the batter's box, the Panthers were led by freshman Michael Smith, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, a walk and two RBI. Senior Paul Castro compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Junior Isaac Davila also chipped in for Prairie View A&M, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the third inning. Smith's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Prairie View A&M.
The Braves failed to push any runs across before the Panthers built on their lead in the fifth inning. Smith came across to score the lone run of the inning for Prairie View A&M, which brought the Panthers lead to 3-0.
Alcorn State narrowed Prairie View A&M's lead to 3-1 before the Panthers stretched the advantage to 4-1 in the sixth inning.
Prairie View A&M held the Braves scoreless before building on their lead in the eighth inning. The Panthers pushed across two runs, including one on a solo homer off the bat of Castro, bringing the Prairie View A&M advantage to 6-1. Alcorn State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Panthers still coasted to the 6-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Prairie View A&M's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Prairie View A&M took the lead at 2-0 in the bottom half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Mendoza put together six innings of one-run ball for the Panthers.
» Junior Jayden Williams stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers faced 40 Alcorn State hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out four.
» The Panthers drew five walks from Alcorn State pitching.
» Smith led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
» Alcorn State was led offensively by sophomore Iii Reyfield Adams, who went 3-for-5 with a triple.
» Junior Jermel Ford led the Braves pitching staff, throwing two innings of one-run ball.
