BUENA VISTA, Va. – In the final doubleheader of the regular season, the Southern Virginia University softball team (20-18, 6-12) split games with Mary Baldwin (18-15-1, 10-8) to secure its spot in postseason play.

After honoring the seniors, the Knights got off to a great start in game number one, forcing three quick outs and then getting on the board in the bottom of the first. Arianna Prymak tripled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the inning and was brought in by a Jaci Shumway single to left center.

The Squirrels would fight back to take the lead in the top of the third. Paige Fix would reach the plate from second base after an Olivia Gagne single up the middle to open the scoring. After advancing to second on the throw, Gagne would give the Squirrels the lead on an Allison Crum single to center field.

Mary Baldwin would add to its lead in the top of the sixth after a throwing error saw two runners reach home, making the score 4-1.

Both teams would add a run in the final inning, but the Squirrels would hold off the Knight's comeback attempt to take game one.

Game number two started like the first, with Southern Virginia jumping out to an early lead. Senior Krystal Kemp got the team on the board with a solo home run—her ninth of the year—to lead off the inning. Multiple Mary Baldwin errors would allow the hosts to add two more runs before the end of the inning to go up 3-0.

The Squirrels would cut into the advantage in the top of the fifth after Trinity Thomas got on base after just beating out a throw from the shortstop. After being advanced to second on a single by Molly Thompson, Thomas would reach the plate after an error to get her team on the board.

The Knights, however, were quick to add to the lead, adding two runs in their portion of the fifth inning. After back-to-back bunts by Madison Lloyd and Dykell Jones, Shumway was walked to load the bases. Despite a pitching change, the Knights would get on the board on the net at-bat, with Kemp singling to center field to see Lloyd home. Krailyn Guymon would then step up to the plate and smack the ball to left center, scoring Jones to increase the advantage to four, 5-1. The Squirrels did well to escape the inning without further damage, recording three straight outs with the bases loaded to keep the deficit at four.

In the final inning, Mary Baldwin looked to make a comeback to force extra innings, but Chloe Persinger came in relief of Kemp in the circle to record the final two outs for her third save of the season. The 5-3 victory secured Southern Virginia's spot in the USA South conference tournament.

The Knights will now wait for the league's final games, played tomorrow, to determine their seeding in the tournament that begins Thursday, May 4.

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