Texas Southern fends off Prairie View A&M to advance to #SWACSB19 Finals
Texas Southern 5, Prairie View A&M 3
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Texas Southern fended off a late Prairie View A&M rally to move to the 2019 SWAC Softball Championship game by a score to 5-3 Saturday morning at Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
Texas Southern’s Julia Bilbao got the Lady Tigers on the board first, hitting her second triple of the tournament. Bilbao managed to score at the plate thanks to an off-target throw from the shortstop.
Prairie View A&M mounted a threat in the top of the third, as Shelby Williams reached via error and moved to third after an error allowed Bianca Cruz to reach first. However, the chance was short-lived as Texas Southern’s Destiny Ricks forced PVAMU’s Destinee Williams to fly out to Bilbao, ending the inning.
The Lady Tigers put together an opportunity after Lauryn Banks drew a walk, and Madi Marek laid down a bunt single to move Banks to second. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Paige Jackson delivered a two-run single to add to TSU’s lead.
Laurisa Hernandez opened the fourth inning with a stand-up double to try and spark the Lady Panthers, but Prairie View A&M was unable to build on it. Texas Southern cashed in during its half of the frame, as Madi Marek hit a two-run double to increase the TSU lead to 5-0.
D. Williams and Hernandez both singled to start the top of the sixth, and Kiara Ross scored Williams with a single. Cameron Lavergne drew a walk to load the bases, and though Ricks regrouped to strike out Serena Antone, Gabriella Fonseca delivered a RBI single to inch Prairie View A&M closer, and S. Williams slapped a single out of reach of the third baseman to bring the Lady Panthers within two before Ricks got out of the inning by inducing an Alyssa Garcia flyout to right.
Naomi Reyes came on for the save situation, and though she retired D. Williams, Hernandez and Daneisha Hinton both reached via single, but Ross flied out and Hernandez was ruled to have left too early, ending the game.
Key Stats
- Hernandez was 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
- Marek was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
- Ricks picked up the win, striking out three during 6.0 innings. She threw 110 pitches.
- Texas Southern advances to its fourth SWAC softball tournament final in five season. The Lady Tigers have faced Alabama State in each of those matchups.
About the SWAC:
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
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www.swac.org.