WISE - - The duo of Nathan Hatmaker and Jared Finch posted a zero in 14 consecutive innings on the Stallard Field scoreboard Thursday afternoon as UVa-Wise swept a Mountain East Conference doubleheader from the University of Charleston by identical 6-0 scores.  Hatmaker allowed just five hits in his game one complete game effort before giving way to a two-hit performance by Finch in the finale.

Rain forced the start of the doubleheader to be delayed by over an hour but, coach Hank Banner's Cavaliers were swinging early in the opener.  Forced to bat first on their home field due to the game being moved from Charleston, Bill Steven put UVa-Wise (10-24, 9-15) in front 1-0 when his two-out RBI single plated Ty Lighton.

Charleston (10-22, 7-21) had one of its best scoring chances of the day in the bottom of the first when Michael Hoeft walked and moved to third with one out on a double by Anthony Brunetti.  Hatmaker then went to work by fanning Zach Gunter on a 2-2 pitch and getting Josh Easterling to fly out to work out of the jam.

Leading 1-0, the Cavs would put the game out of reach with four runs in the third inning.  Steven knocked in Lighton for the second time in the game before Tye Marshall blasted a three-run home run with two outs in the inning.

Hatmaker would retire the next eight hitters he faced before a two-out walk in the fifth was followed by a base hit to put men on the corners with two away.  Again, the left-hander shut down the Golden Eagles as he got the three-hole hitter Brunetti to fly out ending the inning.

An RBI single by Chaz Tanner scored Jordan Olinger for UVa-Wise's sixth run of the contest.  Hatmaker allowed a two-out walk in the seventh but escaped without any damage.

Five was the number of the game on the mound, Hatmaker allowed five hits, walked five, and struck out five in winning his first game of the season.  In 11 innings of work against Charleston this season the Harrogate, Tennessee native has allowed just two earned runs on nine hits.

For the second consecutive game, UVa-Wise got on the board in the top of the first inning in game two. Lighton singled to lead off the game, stole second, and scored two hitters later on Steven's fourth hit of the day. 

As was the story in the opener, Charleston threatened to score in the home half of the inning. Hoeft singled to lead off the frame but was doubled off first when Michael Hooper lined into a 4-3 double play.

An inning later, Finch gave up his final hit of the day when the former Twin Springs High School standout allowed a one-out hit to Easterling.  The right-hander induced his second double play in as many innings one hitter later when Houser grounded into a double play.

The Cavs increased the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third when Marshall had a two-out RBI double to score Brett Yates.

The groundball double play started a stretch of eight consecutive batters retired by Finch.  The next Golden Eagle to reach was Easterling on a one-out walk in the fifth.

While Finch was mowing down Charleston, his offense was giving him more run support. Steven continued his fine day with a base hit on an 0-2 pitch that scored Tanner from second base to increase the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth.

After Finch finished off Charleston in the bottom of the inning, the Cavs put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth.  Back-to-back hits by Austin Johnson and Tanner scored Bryan Andrews before Johnson raced home on a wild pitch to make the score 5-0.

UVa-Wise added its sixth run on a run-scoring hit by Andrews in the top of the seventh.

Finch struck out three and walked two in the complete game two-hit shutout.  The win was the first of the season for the junior.

Steven finished the doubleheader with five hits and four RBI, Marshall added four RBI and two runs scored.

The consecutive complete game efforts may pay dividends for UVa-Wise; the Cavs are in the midst of six games in three days.

Next up is a doubleheader with Glenville State College Friday.  First pitch of game one is tentatively scheduled for 3 pm.