URBANA, Ohio - - Taylor Brandts recorded a save in game one and hurled a complete game shutout in the finale as UVa-Wise swept Urbana University on Monday.  The doubleheader sweep by the Cavaliers propelled coach Karen Bitter's club into sole possession of first place in the Mountain East Conference.

UVa-Wise (19-6, 6-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning of game one.  Charity Lawson plated Sarah Wiltshire on a sacrifice fly to start the scoring before Kristina Romualdo and Christina Ziemba scored on an Urbana error. Mindy Combs finished off the big inning for the Cavs with an RBI single that knocked in Megan Dillion.

Urbana (16-6, 8-2) answered back in its half of the frame with three runs.  Caitlyn Everhart drove in the first run with an RBI groundout and Morgan Haer lined a two-out two-RBI hit to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Another Lawson sacrifice fly to score Wiltshire and a run-producing double by Dillion extended the UVa-Wise lead to 6-3 after the top of the fourth.  The visitors added a single run in the fifth when Whitney Williams scampered home on a Blue Knight error.

Trailing 7-3, Urbana would plate one in the home fifth on an RBI groundout by Danielle Farnlacher.  It would be as close as the Blue Knights would get.

Brandts would come out of the bullpen to retire the hosts 1-2-3 in the seventh to preserve the 7-4 win. 
Rachel Hawks collected her eighth win of the season as she allowed three runs in six innings of work.  The senior allowed eight hits and fanned two in the effort.

Game two saw the Cavs score single runs in the second and third inning to build a 2-0 advantage.  Allyssa Zebrowski got UVa-Wise on the board with an RBI groundout to score Dillion and Romualdo scored Ziemba one inning later on a sacrifice fly.

The Cavs busted the game open in the fourth inning with five runs, all coming with two outs in the inning. With two outs and two runners on, Wiltshire reached on a bunt base hit to load the bases for Ziemba.  The Chesapeake, Va. native delivered the knockout blow with a bases clearing double to left field.  Leading 5-0, Romualdo ended any chance Urbana had of coming back with a two-run homer to score Ziemba.

UVa-Wise added a run in the sixth inning on a base hit by Romualdo to post an 8-0 run-rule victory.

Brandts allowed just one hit in the win as she struck out six and walked just two. 

The Cavaliers have now posted run-rule victories in four of the team's six MEC games.  With the 6-0 start, UVa-Wise is the only MEC school unbeaten in league play. 
 
Overall, the Cavalier women have posted six straight victories.  UVa-Wise will look to extend its winning streak on Wednesday when Fairmont State visits Cavalier Field for a doubleheader.  First pitch is set for noon.