MISENHEIMER, N.C. – On the opening day of the USA South conference tournament, the Southern Virginia University softball team took on the No. 1 seed and hosts Pfeiffer, falling 5-3.

After Chloe Nelson smacked the opening pitch through the infield to get on base, the Knights would take an early lead after Krystal Kemp doubled to left center, bringing in Nelson from first to open the scoring. Kemp would advance to third after Adisen Webster hit one over the second basemen's head to put runners on the corners. Falcon pitcher, Kali Morton, would strike out Krailyn Guymon to end the inning with the Knights up 1-0.

Chloe Persinger would force three straight groundouts in the bottom of the first to get her team back on offense. She would lead off the top of the second with a groundout, followed by a flyout and Morton's second strikeout. In the bottom of the second, Persinger would again force three quick outs, aided by back-to-back catches from Nelson in centerfield.

After a strikeout opened up the top of the third, Jones hit one to the right center wall, rounding the bases to third. A sacrifice fly attempt from Jaci Shumway wasn't quite deep enough, bringing Kemp to the plate. After she was intentionally walked, Webster smacked the ball down the right field line, but Emma Bullin made a great catch to get out of the inning only down one.

The Falcons led off with a walk in their portion of the third inning, and then a single through the middle by Alyssa Broaddus put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Charly Cooper advanced the runners, and a single by Kenzi Lyall on the next pitch would tie the contest at one with runners on the corners and just one out. The Falcons would take the lead after Broaddus reached the plate on a single by Kyndell Warren. Following a pitching change, the advantage would be extended after an error saw Lyall score. Gracie Griffen grounded into a double play to end the inning.

With a full count in the first at-bat of the fourth inning, Guymon hit one over the wall in right-center for her second homer of the season, cutting the deficit to one. Persinger would then hit one down the right field line for her first hit of the afternoon. After Morton's fourth strikeout, a perfectly executed bunt by Emily Oldham put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt by Nelson would move the runners to second and third, and the bases would be loaded after Jones was walked. Shumway popped up for the third and final out with a score of 3-2.

Both teams went three-up, three-down in their next offensive opportunities, but Pfeiffer extended its lead to two on a solo home run by Lyall in the bottom of the fifth. The hosts added another run in the following inning, with Micah Felts reaching the plate on a Gretchen Wolpert single. Then, in the final inning, Morton would continue her excellent outing, forcing three quick outs, including a fifth strikeout.

Southern Virginia now awaits the loser of the second game of the afternoon—Meredith vs. William Peace—in the double-elimination tournament. The first pitch will be thrown at noon.

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