Buena Vista, Va. – The Southern Virginia Knights Softball team took on the Guilford Quakers in a double header on an overcast afternoon. The Knights dropped the first game 14-0, but the weather didn't keep the Knights down, as they turned around to split the series with an 8-7 win in the nightcap.
In the first game the Knights fell to the Quakes with a barrage of scoring in the late innings, with six of their fourteen runs coming in the top of the 7
th. The Knights struggled from the plate;
Emmaline DeGroot ended the game with three hits in three at-bats.
After a rough start the Knights came to the second game with high energy. With each strikeout and hit, players like
Chloe Persinger screamed with excitement to let her teammates know to lock in and fight for the win.
The Knights fell quickly to 1-0, but responded quickly.
Katie Claytor opened the scoring, in the top of the second, with a home run, driving in two of her teammates and giving the Knights the 3-1 lead. That positive energy continued to build into two more runs after
Madison Lloyd got to first on an error by the Quakers pitcher. Southern Virginia struck when it mattered and kept themselves in a position to win, with a four-run lead at 5-1 after the second inning.
The Quakers quipped quickly with four runs of their own to tie the game in the top of the third. The Knights' Claytor continued to fuel the Knights scoring with another explosive home run in the bottom of the third to give them a two-run lead, driving in
Sophia Badell who smoked a double down the right field line just moments earlier.
Despite great hitting from the Quakers, the Knights defended their lead until the 7
th inning. Guilford struck back and tied the game 7-7, but
Chloe Persinger held off the leading run in a courageous pitching effort.
A hard-fought battle on both sides of the field lead to the game being decided in one half inning.
Chloe Nelson led off with a single. After a dropped ball, Nelson used her speed on the bases to get to second base. Then with one out
Dykell Jones stepped up to the plate. After some great contact, Jones hit the ball to center field just over the glove of the shortstop. That walk off hit gave Nelson enough time to get home and score the winning run.
The Knights will continue their season with a double header against Maryville at Harvey-Dryden Field on Mar 12 in Buena Vista, Va.
For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
