Buena Vista, Va. – The Southern Virginia University baseball team faced Averett University in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday but came up short in both games, falling 16-2 in game one and 19-7 in game two.

In the opening game, the Knights found themselves in an early hole, trailing 4-0 before responding in the bottom of the third. Ryan Farris put Southern Virginia on the board with a sacrifice fly, bringing Seth Lloyd home after a throwing error by the Cougars' catcher, cutting the deficit to 4-1. The Knights' only other run came in the fifth inning when Farris launched a solo home run. However, Averett pulled away with a five-run rally in the sixth to close out the game 16-2.

Game two saw Southern Virginia trying to keep pace but struggling against Averett's offensive firepower. Down 7-0 in the fourth inning, Robert Stempin stepped up to the plate and crushed a two-run home run to left field, trimming the deficit to five.

Despite a six-run surge from Averett in the fifth, the Knights fought back in the bottom half of the inning. Zack Geertsen lined a single to left field, scoring Lloyd to make it 13-3. With the bases loaded, Stempin delivered again, this time with a grand slam, fueling a Knights rally and bringing the score to 13-7. However, the momentum was short-lived as the inning ended with a groundout and a strikeout. Averett tacked on more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, securing the 19-7 victory.

The Knights used 11 different pitchers throughout the doubleheader, giving valuable experience to their bullpen. Rock Giles recorded two strikeouts in his relief appearance, while several underclassmen gained key innings on the mound.

Southern Virginia now turns its attention to a road matchup against Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, on March 4.

For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University baseball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_bsb on Instagram.