Prairie View captures first-ever SWAC
Baseball Title
May 21, 2006
PEARL, Miss. – The Prairie View A&M University Panthers
overcome a two-run deficit in addition to a strong pitching
performance from Wrandal Taylor and Josh Terrell to defeat
the Alcorn State Braves 3-2 in the championship game of the
2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament at
Trustmark Park. The victory clinches the school’s first-ever
SWAC title and a spot in the upcoming NCAA Baseball Tournament.
In a stark contrast to the previous games in the tournament,
defense ruled the day as both teams remained scoreless through
four innings of play. The Braves finally broke through in the
bottom of the fifth when third baseman Chris Walker singled
in Scott Spillars to give ASU a 1-0 lead. ASU shortstop Gregory
White increased ASU’s lead to 2-0 several batters later
after recording a sacrifice fly to score Walker.
Prairie View finally got the best of ASU starter Darryl Jordan
in the sixth frame. Rightfielder Eugene Edwards opened the
inning with a double to right and was driven in on a two-out
single by catcher Brandon Whitby. Leftfielder Johnny Giles
followed with a single which set up the game-tying RBI single
from first baseman Roshard Shorter.
With the game tied at 2-2 from that point, the contest turned
into a pitcher’s duel as PVAMU starter Wrandal Taylor
and ASU reliever Matthew Chatwin responded with scoreless performances
in the sixth and seventh innings.
In the eighth inning, Prairie View again came up with another
big play on two outs as centerfielder Calvin Lester recorded
the go-ahead RBI to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead. From that
point, PVAMU reliever Joshua Terrell, who recorded two wins
and a save in tourney play, shut the Braves down in the eighth
and ninth innings in order.
Taylor picked up his 10th win of the season for the Panthers
while Edwards led the way on offense with a 3-for-5 performance
with one run.
|
