FERRUM, Va. – Following back-to-back victories over Mid-Atlantic Christian last week, the Southern Virginia University Baseball team (2-1) lost its first game of the 2023 campaign on the road to Ferrum (2-2).

The Knights got on the board quickly, with Seth Lloyd getting on base after a Panther error. Lloyd advanced to third following a Will Parker single and would score on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Smith to give the team an early lead. Following another Panther error, Marcelino Leonardo Jr. got on base, with Parker advancing to second. The two were advanced after Jackson Massey was walked, creating an excellent scoring opportunity with the bases loaded. However, with two outs, Ty Martinez struck out swinging.

Ferrum would even the score in the bottom of the first. Russell Golembe, the Panther's lead-off hitter, got on base with a single and would be advanced by consecutive wild pitches. He would score after Ozzie Torres grounded out. The Panthers got another runner on base after a Grayson Chitwood single. The inning would end with the Knights turning a double play.

In the bottom of the second, Ferrum got multiple runners in scoring positions, with Benjamin Thomas and Jaden Johnson registering singles. The two tried to steal, with Thomas attempting to steal home but got caught out. Johnson's steal attempt was successful, and he then advanced to third following a wild pitch. Following consecutive walks, the Panthers loaded the bases. With two outs, Stockton Hall caught Golembe looking.

Southern Virginia would retake the lead in the third inning. Nick Daynes got on base after being hit by a pitch and would score after Leonardo Jr. had an excellent hit down the infield line to get him to second.

Ferrum would take its first lead of the day after a four-run bottom of the third. First, Torres scored on a sacrifice fly to even the score at two. Then, following a double to left center field by Jaden Johnson, Clayton Michael and Benjamin Thomas would score to take a 4-2 lead. The Panthers would increase their lead before the end of the inning after an error by the catcher that saw Johnson reach home plate.

The Panthers would add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Following an Ozzie Torres double, Russell Golembe made it home. Torres would add another run after Grayson Chitwood grounded out, making the score 7-2.

Mason Sheesley would add another run in the next inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

The Knights would leave three runners on base in the eighth inning and head into the final inning down five runs.

Mitch Smith and Marcelino Leondardo Jr. would both get on base after getting hit by a pitch. The next two hitters would pop up, but Southern Virginia would get back on the board after Tyson Toller singled through the left side, allowing Smith to score. Luke Paulson tallied another hot for the team with a single to right center, sending Leonardo Jr. home. Dawson Jones struck out swinging, ending the contest with a score of 8-5 in favor of the Panthers.

With Tuesday's game being postponed, the Knights will now prepare for the home opener on Saturday, Feb. 25, against Penn State—Mont Alto.

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