BUENA VISTA, Va. – After four straight series on the road, the Southern Virginia University Softball team returned to Harvey-Dryden Field for a doubleheader against Shenandoah University Thursday afternoon, splitting games with the visiting Hornets.

The first game was a high-scoring affair, and the teams didn't take long to get on the board. The Hornets opened the scoring in the top of the first, tallying two unearned runs to take an early lead.

The Knights battled back in their portion of the inning, with Dykell Jones and Arianna Prymak scoring after a Jaci Shumway double.

Shenandoah restored its two-run lead in the top of the second, with two runners reaching home on passed balls.

Southern Virginia cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning after a great individual effort by Chloe Nelson. She got on base with a single up the middle, stole second, and then raced to home plate after the catcher overthrew the second baseman.

After neither team registered a hit in the third inning, the Hornets added to their lead in the top of the fourth. Paige Eagleton led off with a single and, after stealing second, scored after Lily Richichi reached on an error.

The Knights clawed their way back into the game again, adding two runs to tie it at five. Katie Claytor opened the inning with a single and advanced to third following a Hornet error. Malia Davis grounded out to the shortstop but brought in Claytor for the first run of the inning. Nelson added her second single of the game to get on base and advanced on a dropped third strike to get into scoring position. A Prymak single brought in Nelson from second to tie the contest.

It didn't take long for Shenandoah to restore its lead, adding a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-5.

In the bottom of the inning, Southern Virginia again tied the game after a Claytor double to left center brought home Matea Manuleleua, who was pinch-running for Krystal Kemp.

The visitors retook the lead in the following inning, tallying three runs off four hits in the top of the sixth to take a 9-6 advantage. The Knights, however, also added a run in their portion of the sixth to chip away at the lead. Nelson's wheels were again on display, with the Billings, Montana native recording another single, reaching third after an Emily Oldham single, and stealing home for her third run of the game to lead all players.

After holding the Hornets scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Knights could not complete the comeback in their portion of the inning. Taylor Smith registered her second save of the season, closing out the game with a score of 9-7.

The afternoon's second game saw Southern Virginia rattle off eight runs in the bottom of the first. Shenandoah opened the scoring off a Tiffany Bower double, sending home Arlene Miller. Then, the Knights lit up the scoreboard, beginning with Prymak, who recorded the first of two triples in the inning in the first at-bat. She would be brought home by a Shumway single up the middle. She would reach the plate following an Adisen Webster double to right center. Krailyn Guymon then grounded out to short but tallied an RBI after Kemp scored. A Mattison Christensen single then brought in Webster. Freshman Katie Claytor stepped up to the plate and smacked the ball over the right-center wall for a three-run homer—her second of the year. Prymak added her second run of the inning after a Kemp single to right field for the eighth and final run of the first.

A solo home run by Paige Eagleton in the top of the second cut the deficit to six, but the Hornets would then record three straight ground outs, ending their portion of the inning. Shenandoah added one more run in the following inning, making the score 8-3.

After two scoreless innings, Southern Virginia got back on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Shumway and Webster both tallied runs to increase the lead to seven.

Following a three-up, three-down top of the fifth, Claytor registered another hit, a single, and advanced to second on a throwing error. A Prymak flyout pushed Claytor to third, who ended the game after scoring on Jones's at-bat after going up eight runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Buena Vista native impressed, leading all players with two runs, two hits, and three RBIs in just her second two-game series at home.

Southern Virginia remains at home, taking on Juniata on Saturday, Mar. 18, with game one beginning at 1 p.m.

For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.