Tigers Win 2nd Straight, Claims 1st Series Of SWAC Play

Nine runs scored in two innings propelled the Texas Southern baseball team to the forefront as they earned their second consecutive victory over the visiting Prairie View Panthers by a 9-3 score.

Unlike the previous game which contained a lack of offensive production until the conclusion, this game wasted no time in opening the score. Texas Southern struck first in the bottom of the second inning with a bombardment of base hits on PVAMU starter Tyler Laux that led to five runs in the half junction.

The bottom of the third exhibited a similar sequence with the home team putting up four runs from a mixture of pitching mishaps and team cohesive hitting. A Nic Garza double to right field, a Jordan Vidato reach on a throwing error by PV’s third baseman, and a Tyrese Clayborne hit-by-pitch all served as the catalyst for Reuben Bennevendo’s RBI walk that tallied TSU’s sixth run of the game.

Laux was relieved by Tyrone Tubbs as a result of yielding a bases-loaded jam, but the switch didn’t relieve PVAMU of suffering additional collateral damage as a Michael Goudeau HBP, Tyson Thompson base hit to right-center field, and a wild pitch chucked to the dirt underneath their catcher increased TSU’s lead to 9-0.

Texas Southern underwent minor hiccups in its defensive effort as it permitted PVAMU’s first run of the game in the top of the fourth by a Christian Mendez sacrifice fly and a two-RBI single by Jordon Ginn later in the sixth, shortening their lead to 9-3. TSU made use of their bullpen by bringing in Jaiden Beck to replace starter Brian Williams for the seventh inning onwards. Beck would go on to allow just two hits in his three innings of relief work.

Nic Garza was the star once again for TSU with a 4-for-4 outing, two-runs and one walk. Add to that with his performance yesterday, he is now 8-for-8 for this series against PVAMU.

His production with the bat was complemented by outfielder Tyson Thompson and his 2-for-5 line along with a scored run and an RBI. Catcher Bennevendo recorded two RBI, two runs scored, one hit, and one walk in his own right. Other players who had as much RBIs as the catcher included Justin Cooper (1-for-4; one run and one walk) and Oscar Ponce. Vidato flexed his legs on the infield by snatching his fifth stolen base of the year in the bottom of the second inning.

Saturday’s performance was an emotional one for Williams as he played at Prairie View A&M last season. Williams put the emptions behind him as he earned his first win of the year by pitching a quality start on six hits, three earned runs, five walks, and two strikeouts, his longest start thus far in the season.

Texas Southern will play the finale of their weekend series against PVAMU on Sunday, March 7 at MacGregor Park with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.