Buena Vista, Va. - On a sunny, windy afternoon the Southern Virginia University Knights took on the Sweet Briar College Vixens. The Knights split the series with the Vixens on senior night, losing 6-3 and winning 9-1.
 
Game one found the Knights down by three runs in the first two innings. They worked to recover from the deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Chloe Persinger started a rally with a single that got her all the way to second after a bad throw to first that allowed Dykell Jones to score. Katie Claytor smoked another single that brought Persinger home. After Emmaline DeGroot slipped a single up the middle Claytor used her speed to make it home to tie the game 3-3.
 
After three more empty frames the game went to extras. The Vixens struck quickly and gave themselves a three run lead in the eighth The Knights failed to respond in the bottom of the inning, which ended the game with a 6-3 loss.
 
The second game started slow for both teams, with two scoreless innings. The Vixens struck first but the Knights didn't stay down for long. Jones hit a solo moonshot to left center to equalize the game at 1-1 in the third. The Knights didn't look back from that moment to the end of the game. Jones came back to the plate in the fourth and knocked a single through the left side, allowing Kimball Jones to score, recording her second RBI, and putting Southern Virginia up by one run.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Abby Southern hit a blooper just over the glove of Vixens shortstop that brought Jessica Jones around the bases. Kymbal Jones doubled and after the center fielder bumbled the ball, advanced to third. Malia Davis and Southern took advantage as well and both crossed home plate adding two more runs to the board. Arianna Hall brought Kymbal Jones home with a single to end the fifth inning leading 6-1.
 
The Knights brought the same energy to the sixth inning. Persinger ended her senior night with another lap around the bases after an error by the Vixen's catcher. Jessica Jones blasted a grounder to the shortstop and, despite getting out at first, Jones allowed Kayla Autry to score and add to the Knights lead. The game ended with a mercy rule, after Kymbal Jones reached first on a fielding error at third base. The Knights won the game 9-1 in six innings.
 
The Knights will conclude their regular season against Mary Baldwin in Staunton, Virginia on April 27.
 
For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.