Two tough early innings led to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff dropping its series opener with Prairie View A&M on Friday.
Prairie View won 11-1 in five innings at the Torii Hunter Softball Complex in game one of the three-game series.
UAPB (10-24, 5-11 SWAC) was again without ace pitcher Kayla Adams, who missed the Alcorn State series earlier this week. Head coach Michael Bumpers said Adams, who has a walking boot on her left foot, may miss the rest of the season.
“She’s going to get an MRI, hopefully early next week,” Bumpers said. “That will let us know exactly what’s going on. Right now, she’s in a boot, and she’ll be on crutches until she goes for the MRI.”
Bumpers said UAPB isn’t sure exactly when Adams was injured, though it may have taken place during the Texas Southern series March 29 and 30 in Houston. It may have been an ongoing injury that worsened.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB has yet to win a SWAC game this season in which Adams did not pitch.
Prairie View (18-17, 12-3) scored 4 runs in the first inning, 1 in the second and 6 in the third. The Lady Panthers drew six walks and one hit by pitch in the first inning, then tallied six hits in the second inning.
Bumpers said it is tough to come back from an early deficit against a good team such as Prairie View.
“I think we kinda got dejected right after that (first inning),” Bumpers said. “The big thing for us is we gotta understand that we know Kayla’s out. We know that. So, the other pitchers, it’s their time to step up and start doing what they were brought here to do. Today, it just did not happen.”
Danika Bryant (2-7) started at pitcher for the Lady Lions but was pulled with one out in the first inning for Traelen Humphrey, who hadn’t pitched since being hit by a line drive on March 16. Bryant was responsible for the 4 first inning runs, while Humphrey was charged with the 7 runs scored over the next two innings.
Bryant returned to the pitcher’s circle to begin the fourth inning. She pitched much better from there than how she started, holding Prairie View to one hit and two walks with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
Prairie View centerfielder Janaiya Thomas led the Lady Panthers at the plate, hitting 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs. Left fielder Mia Nunez hit 1 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs. Prairie View used five pinch hitters in the final two innings with the game in hand.
Brielle Moreno (7-5) pitched all 5 innings for the Lady Panthers, allowing 1 unearned run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
UAPB’s lone run came in the second inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, catcher Kaitlyn Neely bunted. Prairie View threw to third to get the lead runner, then threw to first trying to double off Neely.
Instead, the throw got away and ricocheted deep into foul territory down the first base side. The lone Prairie View error of the game allowed second baseman Lyric Perry to score from first while Neely reached third.
UAPB and Prairie View will conclude the series with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.