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.
By sweeping PVAMU, TSU won their eighth consecutive series against their conference rival since April 8, 2016. In that span of time, the team holds a 21-3 head-to-head record against the visiting Panthers..
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.
In the second, leadoff batter Tyson Thompson first reached base on a throwing error by PVAMU's third baseman, advanced to second while the opposing team scrambled to possess the loose ball, and progressed to third on a balk call made against Maldonado. 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.
Prairie View mustered some pushback in the game though with an Andrew Garcia RBI triple to right-center field in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1. Then in the eighth, PVAMU executed a double stolen base play to grab its second run by maneuvering their runners in first and third base to stymie TSU's infield in confusion. As Keanu Maldonado dashed to steal second during Christian Mendez's at-bat, TSU's catcher Juan Sanchez darted the ball to that part of the field to snag catch him. That throw opened the window for PVAMU teammate Sebastian Coria to run towards home without delay.
Bryson Armstrong, TSU's starting pitcher for the third game of the series, had his longest outing of the season with six innings on six hits, one earned run, two walks, and three strikeouts. He was relieved in the seventh by Adolf Castillo, who went only one inning with a hit allowed and one strikeout. Jacob Morin pitched in from the bullpen as well with his two innings of service on two hits, one earned run, and two strikeouts.
Salazar finished 2-for-4 with two RBI while Vidato and Clayborne also added two RBI.Â
TSU is back in action on Tuesday night at No. 8 LSU for a 6:30 p.m. start in Baton Rouge, La.
