BUENA VISTA, Va. – On opening day of the 2023 season, the Southern Virginia University Softball team (1-1) split games against visiting Randolph College (3-1).
In game one, the WildCats came out swinging, with lead-off hitter Dominique Irving opening the contest with a single. Irving was moved to second on a groundout and then stole third base to get into scoring position. She would score on a single by Lacey Lucado. Lucado would also steal a base, getting to second before another single by Randolph would bring her home. The WildCats would increase their lead to three following an error by the Knights that saw Jenna McDermott reach home plate.
Southern Virginia would score its first run of the year in the bottom of the second when
Krailyn Guymon hammered the ball past the fence for a solo home run.
Defensively, the Knights were led by
Jaci Shumway in the second inning, with the third baseman assisting in all three outs. Shortstop
Adisen Webster would do the same in the next inning, with an outstanding diving catch closing out the inning.
The Knights would use a two-run bottom of the third to square the game at three.
Arianna Prymak got on base with a single and was advanced to second following a fielder's choice. After stealing third, Prymak would be brought home by a
Krystal Kemp home run.
In the top of the fifth, Southern Virginia would notch yet another three-up, three-down inning, its fourth straight after giving up three runs in the first.
The following inning saw Randolph increase its lead with a two-run homer by McDermott.
Emily Morris would give up just one hit in the final two innings, sealing the game-one victory for the WildCats.
In game two of the doubleheader, Southern Virginia had a promising start, with lead-off hitter Matea Manuleleu singling and
Dykell Jones being walked. Following back-to-back fly-outs, Webster was walked to load the bases. Freshman
Katie Claytor would strike out swinging, leaving three runners on base.
Randolph would record its only hit of the second game in its portion of the second inning, with Taryn Campbell leading off with a single.
The Knights would take control of the game in the bottom of the third after a Shumway double would bring in Manuleleu. The next hitter, Kemp, would also tally a double, bringing Shumway home to make the score 2-0.
An exceptional fourth inning would see the Knights add to their lead, beginning with a
Mattison Christensen single, the first of four straight and six total hits.
Chloe Nelson,
Arianna Prymak and Matea Manueleleu followed with singles of their own, with the last bringing in Nelson, who also stole a base. An error would advance Manueleleu to second and Prymak to home, increasing the advantage to four. Shumway got on base after being walked, and Kemp stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second. The senior would smack one out of the park for a three-run homer. Webster was also walked, and following back-to-back strikeouts on her previous two at-bats, Claytor would send the ball just over the fence for her first career home run, pushing the score to 9-0 in favor of the home team.
After a quick three outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Knights would earn their first triumph of the 2023 campaign.
Kemp was outstanding, with three hits—a double and two home runs—on six at-bats while scoring twice. Prymak, in her Southern Virginia debut, was also magnificent, tallying three hits, two runs and two stolen bases while allowing just a single hit in five innings pitched in game two. Manueleleu was also stellar, going two-for-two and scoring two runs.
The Knights will now prepare for a doubleheader on the road against Guilford College on Saturday, Feb. 25, with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
