by Wesley Evans

ST. MARY'S CITY, Md.—The Southern Virginia University baseball team earned its first Capital Athletic Conference victories of the season Saturday afternoon, earning a doubleheader sweep of St. Mary's College by shutting out the Seahawks in both games by scores of 10-0 and 7-0, at the Hawk's Nest in St. Mary's City, Maryland.

Game One

Southern Virginia starting pitcher Bradley Jackson pitched eight shutout innings while striking out five and giving up just three hits in game one.

The Knights got off to a quick start putting up three runs in the top of the first.

Freshman outfielder Luke Smith and senior CJ Andrus started things off, both singling before a Madison Hildebrandt walk loaded the bases.

Masen Fenn and Giovanni Prado each had sacrifice flies when a Zach McNally double brought in Hildebrandt to secure the final run of the inning.

Neither team scored for the next five-and-a-half innings, but the Southern Virginia offense picked back up in the seventh. The Knights scored two runs—highlighted by Jordan Keefer and Prado sacrifice flies—then put up four more in the top of the eighth to increase their lead.

Southern Virginia (3-6, 2-2 CAC) tacked on an insurance run in the ninth off an RBI single from Smith, before relief pitcher Seth Burris came in for Jackson in the bottom half to complete the shutout over St. Mary's (2-10, 0-4 CAC).

The Knight offense finished with a season-high 14 hits in game one, with Smith finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI and Fenn earning three RBI for the game.

Jackson (2-1) earned the win in the decision while Patrick Watson (0-1) took the loss for the Seahawks.

Game Two

Game two looked similar to the first game, this time with Southern Virginia starting pitcher Colin Bigelow going eight complete innings while striking out seven and giving up just four hits and no runs.

It took slightly longer for the Knight offense to get going, but in the top of the third—after a Kaleb Caplin walk and Ryan Saunders being hit-by-pitch—Smith reached base on a Seahawk error, providing two runs for Southern Virginia. Andrus then had a sac-fly to give the Knights their third run of the game.

The bats were quiet for both teams for three innings before Southern Virginia put one run across the plate in the seventh—highlighted by a Prado double and McNally RBI.

The Knights tacked on three more security runs in the top of the ninth with RBI's from Smith and McNally, then Justin King relieved Bigelow to complete the shutout.

Smith finished with four RBI in game two—giving him six for the day—while McNally went 2-for-4 with two RBI of his own.

Bigelow (1-3) earned his first win of the season while Michael ONeill (0-3) took the loss for St. Mary's.

Baseball has just one day off before it travels north to take on CAC foe York College (Pa.) in a twinbill Monday afternoon. The first pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at Jaquet Field.