Harrisonburg, Va. – The Southern Virginia University baseball team put up a strong fight against Eastern Mennonite University on Wednesday afternoon but ultimately fell 9-7 after a late rally by the Royals.
The Knights wasted no time making a statement as Stockton Hall launched a solo home run in the first inning to put Southern Virginia on the board. The teams traded runs over the next two innings, with Zack Geertsen delivering a big moment in the third, blasting a two-run homer to bring the Knights within one. By the end of the inning, Eastern Mennonite held a narrow 4-3 lead.
Both teams stalled offensively until the top of the fifth, when the Knights managed to tie the game at 4-4. Ryan Farris started the momentum with a double to center field before advancing to third on a single by Hall. With the bases loaded, Mitch Smith drew a walk, allowing Farris to score. However, the Royals quickly responded by escaping the inning with two consecutive outs, leaving the Knights stranded with missed scoring opportunities.
Eastern Mennonite capitalized on a few defensive miscues from Southern Virginia, tacking on multiple runs in the seventh inning, including two RBIs off doubles. Trailing 9-4 heading into the eighth, the Knights made one final push. Conner Robley, coming in as a pinch hitter, doubled to center field before Garrett Stauffer followed with an RBI single. Mason Jones then delivered the third home run of the day for the Knights, a two-run shot that brought Southern Virginia back within two runs. Despite the momentum, neither team scored in the final inning, and the Knights fell 9-7.
Hall contributed defensively with six putouts, while David Hunley and Farris added four each from the outfield. The Knights hit a season-high three home runs, but left nine runners stranded on base, struggling to capitalize on opportunities.
Southern Virginia now turns its attention to a non-conference doubleheader against Averett University on Saturday, March 1st, with games set for 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM in Buena Vista.
To stay up-to-date with information on the Southern Virginia University Knights baseball team, follow @knigh_bsb on Instagram and visit knightathletics.com.
