ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – In a crucial conference doubleheader, the Southern Virginia University Softball team (17-13, 5-7) fell to NC Wesleyan (23-10, 8-4) Thursday afternoon.
After two scoreless innings in game one, the Knights were the first to get on the board in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles by
Jaci Shumway and
Dykell Jones put runners on the bags. A pitch then hit
Krystal Kemp to load the bases with no outs.
Adisen Webster's single to right field sent Shumway home for the afternoon's first run. Following a pitching change,
Krailyn Guymon grounded out but brought in Jones, making the score 2-0. The Bishops got out of the inning without further damage, with Avery Jordan striking out
Katie Claytor for the final out.
In the next inning, Southern Virginia again got runners on first and second after its first two at-bats, with
Chloe Nelson being walked and
Arianna Prymak registering a hit. With two speedy baserunners, Shumway sent the ball to center field, bringing in Nelson from second. The Knights would add another run when Kemp singled to center field, sending Shumway to the plate to increase the advantage to four.
NC Wesleyan would finally get on the board in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Lillie Baumbach singled to right field, bringing in Ava Lowry to cut the deficit to three. With the bases still loaded, Southern Virginia did well to escape with just one run scored after Prymak forced a lineout and a flyout.
It didn't take long for the Knights to restore its four-run lead, adding a tally in the top of the sixth after Shumway sent a ball over the left field wall for a solo home run—her second of the year.
After back-to-back three-up, three-down innings in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, the Bishops looked to claw their way back into the game. After two straight singles opened the inning, Prymak struck out Skyler Walker for the first out. Baumbach's single to center field brought in Lowry to start the comeback. On the next at-bat, Mary Katherine Raynor also singled to center field, cutting the deficit to two after Alexis Whitfield reached home. After Raynor stole a base to put runners on second and third, Molly Alejandrino recorded another hit that brought in another runner to make it a one-run game. A Makayla Simmons single would bring in the tying run, and with two outs on the board, Savannah Thompson tallied a walk-off single to right field, ending the first game with a score of 6-5 in favor of the home team.
Looking to bounce back after the heartbreaking defeat, Southern Virginia got off to a quick start in game number two, with
Malia Davis bringing in Shumway for the game's first run.
NC Wesleyan scored a flurry of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead. Southern Virginia quickly answered, recording a run in the following inning after Claytor brought in
Kayla Autry, who was pinch-running for Guymon.
In the top of the fifth, the Knights would again cut into the deficit with a Shumway double sending Prymak home, making the score 5-3.
The home team would add to the advantage in the bottom of the sixth, and despite adding a run in the final inning, the Knights came up short, 7-4.
Southern Virginia returns to Harvey-Dryden Field for another conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 15, when it takes on Meredith.
To follow along with the action and for the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
