By Sam Armstrong

HARRISONBURG, Va. – In their final game of the season, the Southern Virginia University baseball team fell to Eastern Mennonite on Monday by a score of 9-5.

The Royals (17-16) scored at least one run in all but two innings, and while the Knights (12-28) fought hard in the ninth, it wasn't enough to make up the deficit.

Down 9-2 going into the top of the final inning, the Knights refused to go away, scoring three runs in the inning. The rally started with a Cole Critchfield double, after which first baseman Zach McNally drove him in on a groundout. Later in the inning, Skylar Cloward hit an RBI double, and in the next at bat, Josh Hilburn hit a single that drove in another run.

Leftfielder Ryan Saunders continued his hot hitting with four hits and a walk in five at bats, giving him 16 hits in his last 24 at bats. He has also recorded a hit in each of his last 13 games. McNally drove in two runs for the game, bringing his season total to a team-leading 37 RBI's. Center fielder Josh Hilburn chipped in two hits and an RBI.

Knights' starting pitcher Jonathan Hodges took the loss on the mound, lasting four innings and giving up three earned runs, while striking out three. 

Southern Virginia finishes the season with 12 wins, which is the highest win total the Knights have had since 2013.