Buena Vista, Va. - The Southern Virginia University Knights challenged the Methodist University Monarchs to a doubleheader on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The Knights put together two incredible games, winning 7-6 and 5-3.
 
Game one was an action-packed, ten-inning victory. After two empty frames, the Monarchs struck first in the top of the third, scoring two runs and tacked one more the following inning to take the 3-0 lead. The Knights equalized late in the sixth, beginning with a sacrifice fly from Chloe Persinger that brought Dykell Jones across the plate. Sophia Badell battered a double down the left line to record an RBI as Kayla Autry scored and cut the lead to one. Then with two outs on the board Malia Davis hit a single down the right line just over the glove of first base, allowing Badell to score. Thanks to Davis the Monarch lead vanished and the game was tied 3-3.
 
That gridlock took the game to the eighth inning where Methodist put the pressure on the Knights to score, taking a one run lead. After a response from the Knights the game ended in ten innings when Badell recorded another RBI to total two for the game as the Knights finished off game one in nail-biting fashion. Chloe Nelson helped the Knights pull ahead in the tenth with a single that allowed Persinger to score, ending the game 7-6.
 
The Knights held on to their momentum in game two, opening up the scoring in the bottom of the first with two runs fueled by a shot up the middle from Katie Claytor. Claytor followed that up in the third with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Madison Lloyd across home. The Monarchs knocked back with a run of their own in the fourth, ending the inning at 3-1.
 
Claytor knocked a single to shortstop to record her fourth RBI of the game. Claytor recorded four RBIs in two at-bats to defend the Knights lead. Soon after, Persinger slid a single down the left side, growing the Knights lead to three runs. Persinger also closed out the top of the seventh and added another win to her pitching record, with the 5-3 Southern Virginia win.
 
The Knights will continue their regular season play against Roanoke College on April 23.
 
For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.