PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Tevanae Tate hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth combined with clutch pitching as TSU opened a big SWAC series with a 3-2 win over rival Prairie View A&M.
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In true TSU-Prairie View fashion, every hit, mistake and catch mattered as TSU jumped ahead 1-0 in the second as Jordan McClain led off with a double, moved over on Julia Bilbao's sac bunt and scored on Ashling Shahan's RBI. Starting pitcher Jazmine Gendorf held PVAMU hitless until the fourth as the Panthers loaded the bases and scored on an RBI single. She settled down and forced an inning-ending grounder as the contest was tied at 1-all.
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With two outs in the sixth, Tierrah Williams singled to left and Tate came up big with a two-run homer to move TSU ahead 3-1. PVAMU would answer with a solo homer in the sixth to draw within 3-2.
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Nora Rodriguez came on in relief in the seventh and picked up two quick strikeouts but PVAMU recorded back-to-back singles to make things interesting. However, she settled down and ended the game the way she started with a strikeout for the save.
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Mila Rodriguez led TSU with two hits while Tate had two RBI. Gendorf improved to 8-6 on the year with four strikeouts on three hits. Rodriguez earned the save with three strikeouts.
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The series resumes with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday at Prairie View A&M.
