Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia baseball team took on North Carolina Wesleyan University in a 3-game series this weekend, who are the reigning USA South Athletic Conference champions and No. 17 ranked team in the nation. The Knights found just 1 win after 3 action-packed games. Southern Virginia has now faced NC Wesleyan 9 times overall and Thursday's victory marks their first win against them all-time.
 
Game 1: The Bishops started the game off strong with 2 runs coming in the top of the 1st inning. The first run came quickly after 2 consecutive hits, the second hit being an RBI. The second run came after a walk and an error from the Knight defense, followed by a double play with the bases loaded that allowed 1 base runner to cross home plate.
 
The Knights offense didn't take long to respond. From the 2nd to the 6th innings, Southern Virginia scored 8 runs unanswered to bring the score to 8-2, tallying 8 hits and 8 RBIs, including a 2-run home run by CF Nick Daynes (1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 SB) in the bottom of the 5th.
 
NC Wesleyan added to the scoreboard once again in the 7th inning with a 2-run homer of their own. They then scored 3 additional runs in the 8th inning off of 4 hits to bring the score to 8-7, diminishing the once 6 run Knight lead to only 1 run. Southern Virginia kept their bats alive, however, putting 1 extra insurance run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 8th inning.
 
The Battling Bishops were unable to score in the top of the 9th and the game ended with the Knights victorious, 9-7. Almost every Knight batter produced in some capacity, from sacrifice plays to stealing bases, and a total of 6 batters tallied at least one RBI of their own. P Zack Geerstsen was given the win, as he pitched 6 innings and only gave up 4 hits, 2 runs (both earned), and 4 walks.
 
Game 2: Despite a valiant effort by 1B Stockton Hall going a perfect 3 for 3 with 1 double, the Knights were unable to produce a single run against the Battling Bishops. The game was dominated by North Carolina Wesleyan in the 0-17 loss.
 
Game 3: The final matchup of the weekend turned out to be a hitting frenzy for both teams and went into an extra inning. After 10 innings, the Knights ended with 16 total hits and 8 runs, and the Bishops had a total of 15 hits and 10 runs.
 
The 1st inning started a bit shaky from the Southern Virginia pitching, giving up 2 hits, one batter hit by pitch, and allowing baserunners to advance on a few wild pitches. Ultimately, NC Wesleyan only recorded 1 run, which would be the only run scored by either team through 3 innings.

The top of the 4th inning is where the action began, with NC Wesleyan scoring 4 runs off of 4 hits. In addition to their hits, the Bishops found themselves moving around the bases with ease thanks to some wild pitches and 3 other stolen bases.
 
The Knights were quick to respond, and found their offensive stride from the 4th to the 7th innings where they scored 8 runs unanswered. These 4 innings featured a whopping 5 RBIs from 2B Mitch Smith off of 2 hits, including Southern Virginia's only double. Adding to the scoreboard as well, RF Ty Martinez went 3 for 6 with 1 RBI and LF Benjamin Horsley went 2 for 5 with 1 RBI. The last run came from 1B Stockton Hall doing it himself with a solo home run to deep left center field leading off the bottom of the 7th inning, ending the game 3 for 4 and 3 runs.
 
The Knights felt confident going into the 8th inning with a 8-5 lead, but their bats went cold as we only saw 1 more Southern Virginia hit for the rest of the day. The Bishops, conversely, regained their composure and went on to tie the game 8-8 in the top of the 8th inning with 3 runs off of 2 hits and help from a poor defensive Knight showing with 2 walks and 1 error. NC Wesleyan finished the game off by adding 2 more runs in the top of the 10th and the game ended 8-10 in favor of the Battling Bishops.
 
The Southern Virginia baseball team will compete at home on Tuesday, March 26th at 2pm against the Apprentice School Builders, a non-conference opponent traveling in from Newport News, VA. The Knights look to extend their current 1 game win streak against them.
 
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University baseball, please visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_bsb on Instagram.