GREENSBORO, NC – In the final of three doubleheaders on the week, the Southern Virginia University Softball team (6-2) split games on the road at Guilford College (5-5) Saturday afternoon.
The first game was a seven-inning thriller that featured fireworks from start to finish. The Knights got off to a great start to jump out to an early lead.
Matea Manuleleua opened up the game with a lead-off single to centerfield.
Dykell Jones stepped to the plate and hammered a double through the left side to push Manuleleua to third.
Jaci Shumway would bring Manulelua home and send Jones to third with a single. She then stole second to keep two runners in scoring position. Following two pop-ups, a
Krailyn Guymon single to centerfield brought Jones home to increase the lead to two before the end of the inning.
Guilford wasn't able to get on the board until the bottom of the fourth, where they tied the game at two following a Faith Fennell single with the bases loaded that brought in two runners. With two runners still on base, Southern Virginia got out of the inning with a ground out.
The fifth and sixth innings saw both teams get on base but could not capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
The Knights loaded the bases in the top of the seventh after Jones was walked, Shumway singled and
Arianna Prymak reached first on balls.
Adisen Webster's sacrifice fly advanced all runners, restoring the Knight's lead. Then, on the next at-bat, Guymon added another RBI as she singled to bring in Shumway, making the score 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Quaker's comeback began with Emma Patterson tallying a single and advancing to second on the throw. She would then move to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk, an Abbie Hill single brought Patterson home and saw Kassidy Lancos reach third. Ally Morales grounded out to second but registered an RBI as Lancos scored. Lani Procell came in to pinch hit, was walked, and then stole second to put runners on second and third with just one out. Alli Clemens then closed out the game with a score of 5-4 with a walk-off single.
In the second game, Southern Virginia again got on the board in the opening inning.
Arianna Prymak, the first hitter of the contest, got to first with a single and then stole second. She would reach third after an error on the first basemen helped Jones reach first. Jones would also steal second and then get to third after a sacrifice fly by Shumway brought in Prymak. A second consecutive sac fly, this time by Kemp, increased the lead to two, with Jones scoring.
The Knights increased the lead in the top of the third.
Emily Oldham led off with a single, and Prymak got on base with another single. A Shumway flyout advanced the two runners, and then Kemp was walked to load the bases.
Mattison Christensen was also walked to make the score 3-0.
Guilford got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Cassie Turner singled to center field, and then Nicole Gumula came in to pinch run. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then a Morales double saw Gumula reach home.
Southern Virginia added to its lead in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Oldham brought in two runners following a triple through the left side, bringing in Nelson and Manuleleua. Oldham then stole home to increase the advantage to five after adding the Knight's sixth run.
The Knights closed out the contest, with Prymak allowing just three hits in the final two innings to secure her fourth triumph of the season and third of the week.
Southern Virginia will hope to add to its record-setting start to the season when it travels to D.C. to take on Gallaudet University on Friday, Mar. 10.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University softball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_softball on Instagram.