Clermont, Fla. - The Southern Virginia University Knights softball team traveled to The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida for their spring break, taking on teams from all over the country. The Knights played six games last week, finishing with a record of 2-4.
The weekend opened with a valiant effort against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The Knights traded blows with the Cardinals at the plate, with the lead changing hands twice. Sophia Badell shined, recording two hits, two RBIs, and a home run in a last attempt to rally for the win in the top of the seventh. The Knights fell just short of the win, losing 10-9.
Next up on the Knights' schedule for the week was the Washington and Jefferson Presidents. The Presidents gave the Knights a veto, even after the offensive efforts of players like Dykell Jones who recorded two hits and rounded the bases twice in the Knights' 5-3 loss.
The Knights bounced back from their loss, when they stepped on the field against the Worcester State Lancers. The Knights found themselves tied after the fifth at 3-3. After a hard fought duel through five, the Knights took the lead behind a seven run offensive effort in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Knights were led by Chloe Nelson, Mattison Christensen, and Badell. Christensen singled to right field to start the Knights' rally. Then, Nelson tripled, allowing three of her teammates to score and padding her stat line with three RBIs in the process. Badell capitalized on that momentum and hit a shot down the left line allowing two more to score. Jones also added to the offensive pressure with two stolen bases. The Knights then claimed a 10-3 victory a half inning later. Malia Davis recorded her first pitching win backed by a save from Abby Southern.
With the aura of their last win in the humid Florida air, Southern Virginia took on the Wisconsin Eau-Claire Blugolds. After Jones smoked a single to center, two scored giving the Knights the 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Arianna Hall was dominant on the mound allowing only six hits and two earned runs. The Blugolds stayed patient and responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. That tie took the game all the way to extras, where Chloe Persinger and Badell both knocked in a run in the top of the eighth, giving the Knights the 4-2 win.
Southern Virginia then went to play the Luther College Norse. The Knights and Norse both held the lead twice but ultimately the Knights fell short, losing 13-10.
The Knights' final matchup was against the Middlebury College Panthers. Unfortunately, the Knights fell in their finale, resulting in six fielding errors. Kymbal Jones led the Knights last effort with two hits, two RBIs, and one run. The Panthers pounced and claimed a 15-6 victory over Southern Virginia.
The Knights return to regular season play March 29 in Misenheimer, North Carolina, where they will face the Pfeiffer University Falcons.
For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
