HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Southern Virginia University baseball team concluded its weekend with a series split on the road against Eastern Mennonite on Saturday Afternoon with the Knights winning game one 4-1 and then falling 4-0 in game two at EMU Baseball Field.

Game 1

In the game one of the doubleheader, neither team managed to put any runs on the board in the first two frames. At the top of the third, Southern Virginia (3-2) scored on a Jonny Soto sacrificed fly to centerfield allowing Brady Lamb to score from third base.

The following inning, Canon Anderson led off with a walk. Mitch Tyse then hit the Knights' first home run of the 2020 season with a shot to left field to extend the lead to 3-0 after four innings.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Southern Virginia added one more run in the sixth coming on a two-out solo home run from catcher Cole Campanile for his first of the season, giving the Knights the 4-0 lead heading into the final inning.

The Royals (3-2) managed to get runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, with one down and a runner on second, the Corey Willis connected for a base hit to score a run. The Knights defense limited the Royals comeback and close out the inning, not allowing further damage for the 4-1 game one victory.

Soto starred for the Knights on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings allowing just two hits while walking four and added seven punch outs. Freshman Curtis Drake picks up the save throwing one inning, allowing two hits, one run, and collecting one strikeout.

Bailey Hall suffers the loss for the Royals going 3.3 innings while allowing three hits, three runs, and five strikeouts.

Both teams were held to just four, with Tyse, Campanile, Bridger Taylor and Ryan Morin accounting for the hits for the Knights. Canon Anderson also managed to get on base with three walks.

Game 2

In game two of the doubleheader, the Royals threatened early with the bases loaded and one out. Southern Virginia's defense avoided surrendering a run after an infield fly for the second out and a strikeout to end the inning 0-0 after two frames.

The third inning ran similar to the second with the Knights' offense quickly going 1-2-3 and the Royals offense loading the bases with two outs. Southern Virginia once again escaped forcing a pop up to first base to keep the game 0-0.

After being held scoreless for the first three innings, EMU pushed its first runs across home plate in the bottom of the fourth frame. With two outs, Jacob Merica singled to center field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brett Lindsay then singled to left advancing Merica to third. Jordan Jones then reached first on a walk. With runners on the corners, an error allowed Robert Guenther to reach first while scoring two runs to take a 2-0 lead. The Royals then pinch-hit Garrett Howard, who came through with a single to score Jones extending their lead 3-0.

Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but EMU tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth on another costly Southern Virginia error to take a 4-0 lead.

The Knights managed to have one hit in the final inning but were unable to produce any runs falling 4-0, splitting the doubleheader with the Royals.

Southern Virginia only managed to have three base runners on the game. Cole Critchfield and Koby Hill tallied the Knights only hits while Jackson Massey picked up a walk.

Riley Daniels is dealt his first loss of the season surrendering three runs (zero earned), on six hits, five walks, and four strikeouts. Will Parker came in relief throwing 0.1 innings, and Zach Zalar pitched two innings, allowing one hit, one run (zero earned), one walk, and a pair of K's.

The Royals totaled seven hits and six walks at the plate. John Judy remains unbeaten improving to 2-0 after tossing six scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk, and nine punch outs.

Southern Virginia returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 3:30 p.m. against Washington and Lee.