HARRISONBURG, Va. – In its second doubleheader on the road in as many days, the Southern Virginia University Softball team (5-1) defeated Eastern Mennonite University (2-2) Thursday afternoon.
It didn't take long for the Knights to get on the board in game number one, with the bases being loaded after back-to-back walks and
Jaci Shumway being hit by a pitch. First,
Krystal Kemp advanced all runners, scoring
Matea Manuleleua with a sacrifice fly. Then,
Adisen Webster grounded out but brought in
Dykell Jones to take a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
Southern Virginia added two more runs in the top of the third to increase the advantage to four. Jones would score from first following a Shumway double. Then, Webster tallied her second RBI of the contest, singling up the left side to bring Shumway home.
The Knights pushed the lead to seven in the following inning after three more runs. Jones would add to her impressive game, reaching third after an excellent hit to right field, bringing in
Arianna Prymak and Manuleleua. Then, she would reach home plate after an error saw Shumway get on base.
The Royals would get on the board in their portion of the fourth inning to make the score 7-1, but a Webster home run in the next inning pushed the advantage back to seven.
Eastern Mennonite added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to five with two innings of play remaining.
Southern Virginia put the game to bed in the top of the seventh, with five runners reaching home plate. A walk opened the inning's scoring, with
Krystal Kemp making the score 9-3 after
Katie Claytor was walked with the bases loaded. Manuleleua singled through the left side with the bases still loaded and advanced to second on the throw, bringing Claytor and
Brooklyn Davis home. Another triple by Jones on the next at-bat saw Manuleleua and Prymak add to the lead. She would score after an error got Shumway on base, completing the scoring for the Knights.
The Royals added two runs in the final inning, making the score 14-5—the Knight's second-largest margin of victory on the year.
In the second game of the afternoon between the schools, Southern Virginia again jumped out to an early lead, registering four runs in the opening inning. Prymak led off with a double, and following back-to-back walks, she would score on a Kemp single through the left side. Jones would also score on the play, and Shumway advanced to second. Then, a
Krailyn Guymon single advanced both runners to load the bases. Finally,
Katie Claytor stepped up to the plate and sent a rocket to left center, scoring Kemp and Shumway for the final runs.
Two more runs were added in the following inning after Shumway recorded her first home run of the season, with Jones already on base after being walked.
The top of the third saw the Knights tally two more runs, increasing the lead to eight.
Emily Oldham was walked and advanced to second after a Prymak bunt. The two would advance following a wild pitch, and after Jones was walked, the bases were loaded. A second straight walk sent Oldham home and Shumway to first. Then, a sacrifice fly by Kemp brought in Prymak to end the innings scorings.
Southern Virginia added to its advantage in the next inning, with another walk with the bases loaded sent
Chloe Persinger home.
The Royals got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a Samantha Hensley homer, but the Knights would restore their nine-run lead the following inning.
Sydney Steskal was walked and advanced on a wild pitch three straight times until she reached home plate.
Eastern Mennonite was again unable to make a final inning comeback, ending the game early—the third time in six games the Knights won in just five innings.
The Knights have just one day of rest before again taking to the road for a doubleheader against Guilford on Saturday, Mar. 4.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.
