By Daniel Whitehead   

FERRUM, Va.—Looking to build off a strong 2013 campaign, the Southern Virginia University baseball team fell in both of its season-opening doubleheader games at Ferrum College, 3-0 and 7-1, Saturday afternoon at Panther Field in Ferrum, Va.

Ferrum's Jake Perkins pitched a complete seven-inning no-hitter with 16 strikeouts in the first game as the Knights (0-2) could not register a hit in 21 at bats. Lane Deaver scored for the Panthers in the second inning off a Clay Massie sac fly to Southern Virginia center fielder Mitch Mantle.

The Panthers scored two more runs in the fourth inning as a Taryn Hayden double brought in Justin Cox and reached third off an error by Southern Virginia third baseman Nick Lyons. Adam Duncan then singled to left field to bring Hayden home and the game to its final score of 3-0 for Ferrum.

"I thought we played alright in the first game and had opportunities to make things happen," said Southern Virginia head coach Logan Mann. "We were definitely showing some first-game jitters and our freshmen were pretty nervous, which is why we struggled offensively.

"In the second game we played with more excitement and settled down a bit. Hunter Allen was great at the plate and Tyler King and Justin Cooper gave our team chances to win. CJ Andrus and Ryan Gabriel also picked it up in the second game."

After the Knights earned a run in the top of the first inning of the second game, Ferrum tied it up in the second inning when matt Reynolds scored off a Massie sac fly again to the Knights' Mitch Mantle. The Panthers extended the lead to 3-1 in the third inning when Hayden doubled to left center to bring in Justin Cox. Moments later, Hank Parsley brought in Hayden on a single to center field

Ferrum upped the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning when Lane Deaver scored off a Reynolds double. Hayden, who earned one run, two hits and three RBI in the second game, tripled in the sixth inning to score Justin Cox and Ty Comer for the final 7-1 score.

CJ Andrus got to the plate four times in the second game and went 2-4 with one strikeout. Zach McNally earned a hit, while Hunter Allen also earned a hit.