Prairie View A&M fell behind early and never recovered Friday night, dropping a 9-1 road decision to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The decisive stretch came in the bottom of the first, when Southern pushed across four runs and set the tone for the series opener before a crowd of 389.

Southern used a hit batter, a wild pitch and a pair of run-producing hits to build its 4-0 lead in the opening inning. Xavier Bradley delivered an RBI single, Kameron Byrd added another RBI single, and Southern also scored on an RBI groundout. Prairie View trimmed the deficit in the third when John Lawson connected for a solo home run, the Panthers' only run of the night, cutting the margin to 4-1.

That was as close as Prairie View would get. Southern starter Bobby Spencer controlled the game from there, working six innings and allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out nine. He threw 98 pitches and limited Prairie View's chances even as the Panthers drew three walks against him. Prairie View finished with five hits total and left eight runners on base.

Southern added on in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to pull away. Jaylon Lucky's double helped spark a two-run fifth, and Byrd drove in another run during the inning. In the sixth, Jacoby Radcliffe doubled and later scored on a balk, while Lucky brought home another run on a fielder's choice. Southern made it 9-1 in the seventh after Byrd tripled and later came home on a sacrifice fly.

Prairie View's offense was led by Tyvon Moore, who went 3 for 4, and Lawson, whose third-inning homer accounted for the Panthers' lone RBI and run. The Panthers stole two bases and drew four walks, but also struck out 10 times. Southern finished with 11 hits, including three apiece from Byrd and KJ White Jr., and took advantage of three stolen bases and consistent pressure throughout the night.

The Panthers also committed one error, while Southern was charged with two. Still, the early four-run hole and Spencer's six strong innings proved too much to overcome as Prairie View opened the trip with a 9-1 loss.

PVAMU will return to action for game two as they continue to face the Jaguars at Lee Hine Stadium.  The first pitch is set for 3:00 pm.