Buena Vista, Va. – The Southern Virginia baseball team earned a midweek victory over the Royals of Regent University, 14-8, improving to 2-0 all-time against the program.
The Knights struck first in the second inning as Garrett Stauffer drew a leadoff walk, followed by a hit-by-pitch to Tad Peterson and a walk from Jaxon Jones to load the bases. Seth Lloyd brought in the game's first run after being hit by a pitch.
On the mound, James Horsley set the tone early, holding the Royals scoreless through the first three innings.
Southern Virginia added to its lead in the fourth when Bobby Rossi doubled to left field, scoring Lloyd to make it 2-0.
Regent responded in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on three walks, two hits, and two errors to plate five runs and take a 5-2 lead. The Knights answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Three straight walks loaded the bases before a wild pitch brought home Robert Stempin. Jaxon Jones followed with a clutch double to center field, scoring Holden Bybee and Ethan Ward to tie the game. Marcelino Leonardo Jr. then delivered the decisive blow with a two-run home run to left, putting the Knights ahead 7-5.
Southern Virginia continued to build momentum in the sixth with an RBI single from Ethan Ward. The Knights broke the game open in the seventh, scoring five runs on a series of timely hits. RBI singles from Lloyd, Leonardo Jr., and Jones kept the offense rolling, while a two-run double from Stauffer highlighted the inning and extended the lead to 13-5.
Regent pushed across two runs in the eighth, but Stauffer answered with an RBI single to score Logan Austin, sealing the 14-8 final.
Horsley finished with three shutout innings, while Tyler Bales earned the win with two strong innings of relief, allowing just one hit.
At the plate, Leonardo Jr. and Stauffer each recorded three RBIs on two hits, while Lloyd led all hitters with three hits.
The Knights return to conference play this weekend, hosting Pfeiffer University on Friday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m.
For the latest updates on Southern Virginia University baseball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_bsb on Instagram.
