By Nick Porter

SALEM, Va. – The Southern Virginia University baseball team was unable to bounce back from an 8-0 deficit after two innings, and fell on the road to Roanoke College, 13-4.

Left-handing pitcher Justin King was tagged with his second loss of the year, allowing six earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched with a strikeout.

Offensively the Knights (4-7) had eight hits, with a pair of doubles from Cole Critchfield, one from Zach McNally, and a homer from Ryan Saunders.

In the fourth inning Critchfield had his first double, advanced to third on a Ryan Morin single, and scored on the same play the picked McNally off at first base.

Roanoke (6-1) scored four more runs in the sixth inning, and by the top of the ninth Southern Virginia trailed 13-1.

Saunders led off the ninth inning with a solo homerun to right field. Critchfield doubled to left center before scoring on McNally's double to right center. A Riley Daniels single brought McNally in for the third and final run of the inning.

Jordan Keeper also recorded a pair of hits in the loss. Michael Stirling, Jonathan Hodges and Tanner Black each saw an inning or more on the mound.

The Knights will head to the Hampden-Sydney College Tournament this weekend. The first game will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 24.