Buena Vista, Va.- The Southern Virginia University Knights take both wins over Mary Baldwin University in their final regular season game at home on the Harvey-Dryden Field.
In the first game, the Knights came out victorious in a close battle with the Fighting Squirrels, ending the game 4-3. The game started out slow, with the first run scored in the third inning by Mary Baldwin. Southern Virginia fought hard in the beginning of the game, getting multiple hits and runners on base, but were stopped short of getting anyone home.
The bottom of the 6th inning was where the Knights began to take off. Sophia Badell was able to get on base on a walk, and then Neveah Woodhouse joined the game to pinch run for Badell. Woodhouse was able to advance to second base, and then onto third from hits by her teammates, and reached home on a Kayla Autry single up the middle.
By the end of the 7th inning, the score was tied up at 1-1, and the race for the win began. The Fighting Squirrels added to the board in the top of the 8th, leaving the score at 2-1. The Knights matched in the bottom of the inning when Katie Claytor reached home after her double to left field.
Heating up in the midst of the tie, another inning began in which Mary Baldwin fought to bring another runner home, upping the score 3-2. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Knights showed offensive expertise and were not willing to take the loss. Manuleleu tied up the score, reaching home after her own double, and a single by Arianna Prymak. With a tied score, the batting lineup showed their power, with a Kayla Autry single, followed by a Chloe Nelson single, along with a walk from Dykell Jones, sent Autry home to score the winning run.
The Knights came back onto the field, ready for a repeat victory. Similarly to the prior game, the first few innings were dry. Mary Baldwin put up one run in the third, and Southern Virginia lacked response until the fifth inning.
The fifth inning held intense success for the Knights, with four runs scored total. 6 runners were able to get on base this inning, and 4 of the 6 returned home. Katie Claytor smashed a single to the left side, sending Arianna Prymak home, after her own single down the left line. Dykell Jones reached home after an impressive base running feat, aided by Sophia Badell singling to right field.
The Knights held out strong for the remaining innings, putting up another two runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the game 6-2, and to take both doubleheader wins.
The Knights finished the season with a 14-22 record and look forward to the USA South conference tournament where they will travel to Greensboro College to take part in the first rounds of the USA South Softball Tournament.
For the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
