Staunton, VA – The Southern Virginia University softball team split its final regular season doubleheader against Mary Baldwin University, taking game one 4–1 before falling 8–5 in game two.

The Knights claimed the opener behind a dominant complete-game performance from senior Malia Stauffer, who allowed just three hits across seven innings.

Southern Virginia continued its power surge at the plate, highlighted by a three-run home run from Berkeley Whitten to left field that scored Sophia Badell and Abby Southern for a 3–0 lead. Badell later added a solo shot to center field to cap the scoring at 4–1. Both Kyleigh Staton and Badell recorded two hits in the win, while Whitten led the way with three RBIs.

In game two, Mary Baldwin jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout. Staton stayed hot at the plate with an RBI triple to center, and Whitten followed with an RBI single in the third inning to tie the game at 2–2.

However, the Fighting Squirrels responded with four runs over the next two innings to regain the lead. The Knights threatened late, loading the bases with singles from Southern and Eliza Patterson along with a walk by Grace Norman. Back-to-back sacrifice flies trimmed the deficit to 6–5, but Mary Baldwin answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the 8–5 victory.

With the split, the Knights lock up the No. 5 seed in the USA South Conference Tournament. Southern Virginia will face Greensboro in the opening round, hosted by Pfeiffer University, on Thursday, April 30.

For the latest updates on Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.