Rocky Mount, N.C. — The Southern Virginia University softball team delivered a thrilling performance in the USA South Conference Tournament, highlighted by a win over #7-ranked Methodist and a gritty battle against top-seeded Greensboro before falling just short of advancing.
In their second-round matchup, the Knights overcame an early 1–0 deficit with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat Methodist 4–3. Katie Claytor sparked the rally with a leadoff double, followed by key hits from Taelor Ware and Sophia Badell to tie the game. Kayla Autry then delivered the go-ahead RBI single, and Arianna Prymak capped the inning with a 2-RBI knock. Prymak went 2-for-3 and later secured her first save of the season with a clean seventh inning.
Malia Stauffer started strong in the circle, holding Methodist to just one earned run over five innings and striking out four. Abby Southern and Prymak handled the final two innings to preserve the win. Despite late pushes from the Monarchs, SVU's defense stood tall—turning a double play and minimizing errors to keep their upset bid alive.
The Knights carried that momentum into a third-round showdown against top-seeded Greensboro, jumping out to a quick 2–0 lead in the first inning. Prymak and Chloe Nelson opened the game with back-to-back hits, and RBI contributions from Dykell Jones and others set the tone early.
Greensboro responded with a big fourth inning, including a grand slam that pushed them ahead 8–3. But the Knights showed no signs of folding. In the sixth, a rally led by Claytor, Stauffer, and a clutch double from Badell cut the deficit to 9–6. A sacrifice fly by Morgan Rich and a key play from Neveah Woodhouse added to the pressure, but the Knights ultimately fell short.
Southern Virginia ended the season at 15–24, matching Greensboro in hits during their final game and proving they belonged among the top teams in the conference. With eight players reaching base and fight until the final pitch, the Knights capped a season full of progress, and pride.
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