BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Southern Virginia University baseball team won 11-8 in its home opener Wednesday night against Ferrum College sparked by a fifth-inning Cole Campanile grand slam.

The Knights (4-2) trailed 8-5 going into the bottom of the fifth inning with Koby Hill leading off. Hill started off the inning with a single to third to get the first base runner on board. After the next two batters were put out by the Panthers' (3-3) defense, a costly error allowed Mitch Tyse to reach safely to first and advance Hill to second base. The next batter, Riley Daniels, was then hit by the pitch to load the bases for Southern Virginia. Campanile at the number eight spot then gave the Knights the lead with a grand slam putting them out in front 9-8.

Southern Virginia extended its lead in the bottom of the eighth frame. With one out, Jonny Soto hit a double to right field, followed by Cole Critchfield and a Hill walk to load the bases. Bridger Taylor smacked a singled to center scoring both Soto and Critchfield to lead now 11-8. The Knights closed out the top of the ninth with Riley Daniels on the mound collecting the save and sealing the 11-8 victory.

Nolan Opp earns the win in relief for his for collegiate victory, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing one run, and registering three punch outs. Starter Curtis Drake tossed 3.1 innings allowing seven runs (three earned) and striking out one. Zach Zalar also saw time out of the bullpen going 2.0 hitless innings and picking up three Ks. Daniels picks up his first save of the season in one inning.

Brady Owen is dealt the loss for the Panthers in his relief efforts, throwing 2.0 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out two.

Ferrum took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second after a scoreless first inning. Josh Greenway hit a leadoff home run followed by an error, and a walk put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners before Christian Campbell singled to center, scoring two runs.

The Knights responded in the bottom of the third frame, following a Brady Lamb single and a Soto double, Critchfield drove in Lamb from third for the team's first run of the game. After a walk, Taylor doubled to right field scoring a pair of runners to tie the game, 3-3. The next batter, Canon Anderson doubled scoring Taylor from second to take the first lead of the game 4-3.

In the ensuing inning, the Panthers posted their best inning scoring five runs capitalizing on a handful of Southern Virginia errors retaking the lead, 8-4.

Southern Virginia managed to score one run in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the deficit to three, 8-5 after Soto singled to right field scoring Daniels who previously had hit a double.

The Knights pitching staff and defense then held the Panthers offense scoreless for the next five innings. The Southern Virginia offense was reenergized in the bottom of the fifth on Campanile's grand slam scoring six runs over the next four innings to claimed the 11-8 victory.

Southern Virginia totaled 14 hits on the afternoon, with seven being extra-base hits. Soto led the offense at the plate with four hits, including two doubles and an RBI. Taylor and Hill also both recorded two hits each. Campanile and Taylor held a team-high four RBIs.

The Knights host next Penn State Mont Alto in a two-game series Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m.