Rocky Mount, N.C.- The Southern Virginia University Baseball team traveled to North Carolina Wesleyan University for a three game series this weekend. The Knights dropped a game Saturday 5-4 but came back with a vengeance winning the second and third, 8-7 and 22-8.
In game one both teams came out swinging. The Knights put up one run off a Conner Robley homer to center field in the top of the first. The Bishops didn't take long to respond with a few runs of their own to take the score to 3-1. The Knights rallied in the third off of a few knocks past the infield from Mitch Smith, Mason Jones, and David Hunley. They put the Knights back on top 4-3. The Knights couldn't outlast the Bishops in game one after some late scores. The Knights fell to the Bishops 5-4.
Game two found the Knights down early after allowing one run in the bottom of the first. The Knights matched the Bishops with a run of their own in the top of the fourth, as Garrett Stauffer smoked a single to center to tie the game 1-1, as Stockton Hall scored.
Southern Virginia and North Carolina Wesleyan traded blows for the next few innings. Zach Geertsen tapped a triple to center field to bring two teammates home, record two RBIs, and put the Knights even with the Bishops, 3-3 at the top of the fifth.
The Knights found themselves down 7-3 in the top of the seventh. That didn't keep them from battling back with the Bishops. Geertsen grabbed up another run, coming home on a wild pitch. Then Southern Virginia rallied their way back into contention. Robley hammered a double to left field to tally another run. The Knights siege slapped the Bishops with some pressure, leading to a passed ball that brought another run in as Jones jumped to home to bring Southern Virginia within one at 7-6. Another passed ball brought Robley running home hurriedly to tie the game 7-7.
Stockton Hall left his duties at first base to take to the mound for the Knights in the bottom of the eighth. Hall sent a slurry of two swinging strikes to close out the eighth. Hall helped hold the Bishops scoreless and take game two to extras. He then smoked a single to left to bring in the winning run and make the score 8-7. Southern Virginia held the Bishops scoreless to close out game two, 8-7.
Game three was an exclamation point on the end of an incredible comeback win in game two. Six Knights had over two RBIs with Ryan Farris and Hall leading the way both knocking in four runs. Farris smashed a two-run homer in the sixth to add to his RBI total. Stauffer and Geertsen both had four hits to add to Southern Virginia's incredible offensive effort.
The Knights also performed well on the mound, Jeffery Hill slung three strikeouts in his three innings. Carson Bybee added a win to his record this season, earning the start and pitching three quality innings. Bybee recorded two strikeouts in his win.
Next the Knights will take on Christopher Newport University in a single game matchup on March 25.
For the most up-to-date information on Southern Virginia University baseball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_bsb on Instagram.