Elizabeth City, N.C. - The Southern Virginia University Baseball Team took on Mid-Atlantic Christian University in a double header Saturday. The Knights took both wins in their series against the Mustangs, winning 5-3 and 8-5.
Game one was a lower scoring affair. The Knights struck quickly with two runs in the top of the first. Mitch Smith smoked a line drive up the right side to bring Seth Lloyd home. Then Marcelino Leonardo Jr. came to the plate with momentum on his side. Leonardo Jr. followed Smith's example with a shot to center past the infield to make the score 2-0.
The Mustangs evened the score in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-2. The Knights took little time to respond behind a two-run blast bringing Garrett Stauffer home with him in the top of the fifth. Southern Virginia grew their 4-2 lead the next inning on a line-drive single to bring Mitch Smith back to the keep and bring the score to 5-2. The Mustangs responded with one more run of their own in game one to bring the final score to 5-3.
Southern Virginia's defense was also on display in game one as Zack Geertsen recorded his first win on the mound this season allowing seven hits and putting three out in seven innings.
Game two started under the lights in Elizabeth City. Southern Virginia- almost in a state of deja vu- opened their game up with two runs in the top of the first, this time both brought home by a Smith double to left field. Mid-Atlantic Christian responded with three runs in the second inning to take the lead 3-2.
The Knights fought back with a quick shot to left field by Smith to bring Lloyd home to tie the game. The two teams held each other scoreless for two innings, all the way to the sixth. Benjamin Horsley took an opportunity to put the Knights back on top with a solo moonshot to center field, taking the score to 4-3.
Smith struck swiftly in the top of the seventh to try and put the game away. Smith recorded his fourth RBI as Stockton Hall came home to put the Knights up 5-3. The Mustangs wouldn't be put away easily, stretching the game to an eighth inning after tying up in the bottom of the seventh.
Southern Virginia put up three more runs to try and put the Mustangs away in the top of the eighth. Stauffer doubled to bring Farris in and put the Knights up by one. Then Robert Stempin smoked a line drive up the middle to bring Farris home. Stempin returned to take one more trip around the bases for the Knights to take their lead to 8-5. The Knights stellar defense from Leonardo Jr., Farris, and Hill sealed the deal for Southern Virginia in a quick half-inning under the lights. The Knights pitching was put on full display as Ben Agnew recorded the win from the mound, backed up by Stockton Hall with one hit allowed during his one inning stay on the hill.
The Knights will take on Guilford in a single game in Greensboro, N.C. on February 18.
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