GRAMBLING, La. --The Prairie View A&M Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 15-2 win against the Grambling Tigers on Saturday.
Yazmyn Stewart (8-2) got the win for Prairie View A&M (22-14, 14-1). The right-hander went three innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on three hits, allowing one walk and striking out one. Gabrielle Larson also pitched well, going two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Prairie View A&M scored twice, with one run coming across on Caidence Martin's single.
The Panthers then held the Tigers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. The Prairie View A&M offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Dyani McKinley, which brought the Panthers lead to 6-0.
Grambling narrowed Prairie View A&M's lead to 6-1 before the Panthers stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the third inning.
The Tigers fought back, closing the gap to 9-2 until Prairie View A&M added some insurance in the fourth. The Panthers scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Jordan Franklin, bringing the Prairie View A&M advantage to 15-2. The score remained 15-2 for the rest of the game, as the Panthers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Prairie View A&M's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Prairie View A&M grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Panthers out-hit the Tigers at a 12-3 clip.
» Prairie View A&M went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Prairie View A&M pitchers faced 18 Grambling hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
» The Panthers drew 10 walks from Grambling pitching.
» Franklin led the Panthers at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs.
