FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College opened a 7-2 lead after six innings, then hung on for an 8-5 non-conference baseball win over Southern Virginia University this afternoon at Panther Field.

RECORDS
Ferrum (2-2)
Southern Virginia (2-1)

THE BASICS
Southern Virginia got a run in the top of the first inning, courtesy of Mitch Smith's sacrifice fly to right field. Ozzie Torres' groundout to third scored Russell Golembe in the bottom of the frame and the score was tied at 1-1 after one inning.

Marcelino Leonardo doubled doubled down the left field line in the top of the third inning to drive in a run and give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Ferrum struck for four runs in the bottom of the third, one on Enrique Diaz's sacrifice fly to left field, two on Jaden Johnson's double to the left-center gap, and the last when Mason Sheesley struck out, but advanced to first on a dropped third strike that allowed Johnson to cross the plate.

Torres doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth inning to drive in Golembe, then Grayson Chitwood's groundout to second base allowed Johnson to score and the Panther lead was 7-2. SVU scored a run in the top of the seventh inning, then Sheesley would score on a wild pitch in the seventh for Ferrum to make it an 8-3 game. The Knights picked up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning before Ferrum's defense shut things down.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Torres 2-5, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI;  Johnson 2-4, double, run, 2 RBI; RP Steven Ritchie (W, 1-0) 5 inn, 1 hit, 1 run, 0 ER, 2 K
SVU: Leonardo 1-3, double, run, 2 RBI; SP Stockton Hall (L, 0-1) 3 inn, 7 hits, 5 runs, 2 ER, 3 K

NEXT UP
Coach Ryan Brittle's team will be back in action Saturday and Sunday, February 25-26, at home with a pair of doubleheaders against Penn State Harrisburg. Saturday's first game is set for a 2:15 p.m. start, while Sunday's doubleheader gets underway at noon.