RALEIGH, N.C. – After dropping four straight contests, including the first of two this afternoon, the Southern Virginia University Softball team bounced back, earning its first USA South conference victory of the season after taking down William Peace University.

The first game was all Pacers from the get-go. After three quick outs, including two strikeouts, in the top of the first, the home team opened the scoring in their portion of the inning with a two-run home run by Adanya Day.

William Peace added two runs each in the bottom of the second and fourth innings to stretch its lead to six. A seventh run was added in the bottom of the fifth to increase the advantage. A solo home run in the bottom of the sixth closed out the scoring in game number one.

Southern Virginia looked like a completely different team in the second match. After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, the visitors took the lead in the top of the second. Adisen Webster led off with a single to left field, and the bases were loaded after Mattison Christensen was hit by a pitch and Chloe Nelson was walked. Matea Manuleleua singled down the left field line, scoring Webster to tie the game at one. Shortly after, the Knights would take the lead after Dykell Jones doubled to center field, sending Christensen and Nelson home. Manuleleua closed out the inning's scoring, increasing the lead to three.

The visitors would add to the lead in the following inning after Jaci Shumway reached the plate following a Nelson single. Peace, however, tallied two runs in their portion to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.

The Knights stayed hot in the fourth inning, adding five runs, beginning with Manuleleua scoring after a Shumway sac fly. Then, a double down the left field line by Krystal Kemp brought in Webster and Arianna Prymak. Webster added another double down the left-field line to bring in Kemp. Webster would reach the plate on a Nelson single to left field, making the score 10-3.

Kemp and Webster would each add another RBI in the top of the fifth after singles to left field, extending the Southern Virginia advantage to nine. Peace would not go down without a fight, registering five runs in their portion of the inning to cut the deficit to four.

With the home crowd behind them, the Pacers tallied two more runs in the next inning as they continued to chip away at the deficit.

After three quick outs by Peace in the top of the seventh, Chloe Persinger stepped into the circle in relief for Kemp. The Randolph transfer was impressive in her first appearance pitching for Southern Virginia. After giving up a hit on her first at-bat, the junior forced two quick groundouts and a pop-up to secure the victory and her first save in a Knight uniform.

Manuleleua led Southern Virginia offensively, going 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Kemp led all players with three RBI to go along with her fourth triumph from the circle of the season. Jones, Nelson and Webster followed closely behind, tallying two RBI each.

Southern Virginia hosts twelfth ranked Pfeiffer on Friday, March 31, for the season's first USA South contest at Harvey-Dryden Field.

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