No Place Like Home: Baseball Wraps Up Series With 3rd Straight Win Over Prairie View A&M

Texas Southern took full advantage of its home field as they wrapped up a three-game sweep over Prairie View A&M at MacGregor Park by a 7-2 margin.

For the second straight game, TSU went right at Prairie View A&M as Justin Cooper drew a one out walk followed by Oscar Ponce’s single. Cooper stole third but the pressure was building as a TSU strikeout put two outs on the board. Nic Garza walked to load the bases and Jordan Vidato came through in the clutch with a 2-RBI double. Tyrese Clayborne followed with a two-RBI double as TSU led 4-0 after one.

The Panthers generated offense consistently on the basepaths but the TSU defense and starter Bryson Armstrong delivered when it counted. With bases loaded in the second, Armstrong forced an inning-ending double play to get out the jam.

Leadoff batter Tyson Thompson led the second off by reaching base on a PVAMU error and moved to second as a result. TSU would strikeout after but a PVAMU balk moved Thompson to third. Another TSU strikeout put pressure on the offense but Dean Salazar doubled to right with two outs as TSU upped the lead to 5-0. PVAMU loaded the bases in the third again with one out but like clockwork, Armstrong forced a fly out to right and Vidato and catcher Ruben Bennevendo sealed the double play as his throw and Bennevendo’s athletic tag at the plate ended the inning.

Thompson opened the fourth with a leadoff walk and moved over to second on a Cooper sac bunt. PVAMU made a pitching change but it didn’t pay dividends as a wild pitch moved Thompson to third. Oscar Ponce was hit by a pitch ad Salazer made them pay with an RBI double. Another PVAMU wild pitch saw Ponce score from third as the lead grew to 7-0.

The Panthers opened the fifth with a walk and scored on a triple for a 7-1 score. They would add a run in the eighth but that would be it as TSU closed out the series in style as with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Salazar finished 2-for-4 with two RBI while Vidato and Clayborne also added two RBI. Armstrong earned his first win of the year as he pitched six innings with three strikeouts.

TSU is back in action on Tuesday night at LSU for a 6:30 p.m. start in Baton Rouge, La.