BUENA VISTA, Va. – The Southern Virginia University baseball team took a loss in a tough game to Alfred State on Saturday, falling by a score of 17-7. 

The first three innings were a duel between the Knights' (9-4) Preston Pettit and the Pioneers' (4-3) AJ Gartland. Both pitchers had total command and moved through the lineup easily the first time through.

The Pioneers got their bats rolling in the fourth and fifth innings as they scored five and eight runs in those frames, respectively, to take a 13-0 lead.

In the eighth inning, Alfred State put four more runs on the board for an overwhelming 170 advantage. The Knights' offense woke up in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs, and then plating three more in the ninth for a final score of 17-7.

Third baseman Jonny Soto was phenomenal, going 4-5 at the plate with four RBIs. Senior Cole Critchfield also had a solid game, ending with two hits and an RBI.

The highlight of the game for the Southern Virginia came in the ninth inning as Mitch Tyse hit a towering shot to left center for his CAC-leading fifth home run of the season. Tyse also leads the conference in RBIs with 18.

The Knights will take the field again on Tuesday as they play Washington & Lee for the second time in a week after beating the Generals 10-9 on Wednesday, March 4. The game is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Lexington.