Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia baseball team demonstrated their prowess by securing wins in two out of three games against Pfeiffer University in an exhilarating series.
Unfortunately, the Knights encountered a setback in the series opener on Friday, as the Falcons' offense surged in the second and fourth innings, establishing an early lead. Despite impressive home runs by Ryan Farris and Seth Lloyd, Southern Virginia couldn't overcome the Falcons' dominance, ultimately falling short with a score of 7-19.
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Southern Virginia asserted control behind Zack Geertsen's stellar pitching performance. Geertsen dominated on the mound, tossing seven innings of shutout baseball while allowing only two hits and striking out six batters. The Knights' offense got off to a strong start, scoring a run in the first inning courtesy of a bases-loaded walk that brought Stockton Hall home. Southern Virginia continued to build on their lead, capitalizing on errors from the Falcons to add insurance runs. Mitch Smith kickstarted a rally in the fourth inning with a single up the middle, and consecutive hit-by-pitches on Marcelino Leonardo Jr. and Smith extended the lead to 3-0.
Southern Virginia sealed the victory in the seventh and eighth innings with clutch plays. In the seventh, Robby Stempin was hit by a pitch, followed by Seth Lloyd executing a perfect bunt down the left side. Pinch runner David Hunley capitalized on the opportunity to advance to third base. Ty Martinez then singled through the right side, bringing Hunley home, and Lloyd scored on a sacrifice fly by Stockton Hall.
The Knights further solidified their lead in the eighth inning, with Marcelino Leonardo Jr. and Benji Horsley both contributing singles to put runners in scoring position. Ryan Farris and Seth Lloyd followed up with two more singles, securing the 7-1 victory.
Geertsen and Chase Smith combined for nine innings of stellar pitching, limiting the Falcons to just three hits and earning Southern Virginia the well-deserved victory.
In the second game of the day, which marked the conclusion of the series, Southern Virginia faced an early deficit, trailing by as much as 0-12 by the third inning. However, the Knights showcased their resilience by staging a remarkable comeback. In the fourth inning, Marcelino Leonardo Jr. energized the team with a powerful homer to left field, sparking a surge of momentum. The offense continued to rally in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs in an impressive display of determination, fueled by timely hits and strategic baserunning. Ty Martinez and Zack Geertsen's back-to-back doubles, coupled with contributions from Mitch Smith and Marcelino Leonardo Jr., propelled the Knights to within one run of the lead.
Southern Virginia further bolstered their offense with five runs in the eighth inning, fueled by a combination of singles and disciplined plate appearances. The team's collective effort culminated in a decisive 21-14 victory.
Rock Giles delivered a clutch performance on the mound, pitching 3.2 innings of stellar baseball while allowing just one run. Chase Smith secured the win with a strong relief effort, pitching two innings and conceding only one run, ultimately sealing the victory.
Southern Virginia's offensive prowess was highlighted by four players recording three or more hits, including Zack Geertsen, Stockton Hall, Nick Daynes, and Marcelino Leonardo Jr., who all played pivotal roles in the team's success.
With this impressive victory under their belt, the Knights will now take a brief break from conference play as they prepare to face Ferrum College on Tuesday, April 2nd, with the game scheduled to commence at 6:00 PM.
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