HEMPSTEAD, Texas (Interstat) — Prairie View defeated Mississippi Valley State 5-3 Friday afternoon at Tankersley Field, snapping a four-game skid and improving to 11-34. The Panthers scored three runs in the third inning to erase an early deficit, then added a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to take control of the Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup. Mississippi Valley State fell to 12-35.

The Delta Devils struck first in the top of the second inning. With one out, Eric Williams singled and later scored on a single up the middle by Jaxon Haynes. Mississippi Valley State added two more in the third when Tanner Aoki led off with a bunt single and Gabriel Huelsing followed with a two-run homer to left, putting the Delta Devils ahead 3-0.

Prairie View answered in the bottom of the third. Ethan Walker singled and Ty Moore singled to put runners on first and second. Ryland Duson doubled to left, scoring Walker and moving Moore to third. Zacarias Salinas grounded out to shortstop, bringing home Moore to tie the game at 3.

The decisive sequence came in the fifth inning. Walker singled to right center and advanced to second on the throw. After a groundout by Moore, Walker stole third base. Duson then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Walker to give Prairie View a 4-3 lead. The Panthers added an insurance run in the sixth. Michael Burroughs walked, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. John Lawson doubled to right center to drive in Burroughs, making it 5-3.

Prairie View starter Beau Beaty worked five innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Ty Pankonin relieved him and tossed three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. Jaxston Fipps closed the ninth with a perfect inning, striking out one.

For Mississippi Valley State, Luke Richard started and went six innings but allowed five runs, all earned, while striking out four and giving up zero hits. The Delta Devils’ pitching staff did not issue a walk until the fourth inning. Camden Farmer pitched two hitless innings in relief with one strikeout.

Huelsing led the Mississippi Valley State offense with two hits, including his home run and two RBIs. Aoki added two singles and scored twice. Prairie View’s Walker had three hits in four at-bats and scored two runs. Duson drove in two runs, and Salinas homered and drove in two.

The game was the second of a three-game series. Prairie View won the opener 11-1 on Thursday. The teams conclude the series Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Mississippi Valley State 1, Prairie View 7. Interstat’s ELO system gave Prairie View a 68.50 percent probability to win.