CARY, NC – The William Peace University baseball team was back at the USA Baseball National Training Complex Saturday afternoon for games two and three of their three-game series against Southern Virginia.  After a narrow 7-6 loss in last night's season opener, the Pacers started the day off with a 9-1 win before dropping the rubber match, 13-4.

Game One: William Peace 9, Southern Virginia 1

Christian Neal (1-0) picked up right where he left off from last season, as he struck out 10 batters and closed the game by striking out the side in the seventh. Neal held SVU to one run on only two hits in a seven-inning complete-game effort. 

The top third of the Pacers' lineup set the tone from the get-go offensively, pushing a pair of runs across in the bottom of the first. Easton Payton singled to left and scored on an RBI triple from Mikey Anerton. Alex Scott came up next and drove Anerton home with an RBI double.

Two runs was all Neal needed, but WPU kept the sticks rolling to the tune of 12 hits and seven more runs. The Pacers added two more runs in the third and put the nail in the coffin with a five-run bottom of the fourth after juicing the bases with no outs.

Anerton finished the game 3-for-4, drove in four and scored three more. Payton reached base safely all four times he stepped up to the plate, going 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Scott went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Tyler Klinedinst also went 2-for-3 and knocked in a run.

Tayler Peterson (0-1) was pinned with the loss, allowing seven runs on nine hits in three innings of work. Tyler Olsen drove Kenneth Lane home with a base hit in the top of the second. Lane drew a two-out walk and moved into scoring positing on Austen Hammond's single to left.

Game Two: Southern Virginia 13, William Peace 4

Both teams scored a pair in the first, but WPU (1-2) let the game get away in the third. SVU scored eight runs in the third on their way to a series victory.  

WPU tallied nine hits but couldn't manage to string them together. All nine Pacers in the starting lineup had one hit apiece. Coleman Greene was tacked with the loss, surrendering eight runs on seven hits, two strikeouts and three walks in two-and-two-thirds.

Five players for SVU (2-1) notched two hits or more, including a 3-for-4 outing from Ryan Saunders, who also drove in a run and scored another. Justin King went the distance to earn the win. King gave up four runs on four hits, two strikeouts and three walks.
 
The Pacers hit the field this Wednesday, February 10 hosting Guilford College at 3:00 p.m. 

Video Coverage and Live Stats will be available for both contests.

For the latest news and updates from William Peace University Athletics, please visit: http://gopeacepacers.com/.