GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - - Host Tusculum outlasted UVa-Wise 11-7 in a non-conference baseball affair Wednesday afternoon.  The victorious Pioneers scored five runs in their final two trips to the plate, including four in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 7-7 tie.

Tusculum (30-19) appeared to put the game out of reach early.  The Pioneers scored three two-out runs in the first inning before adding a single run in the bottom of the second to take an early 4-0 advantage.

UVa-Wise (12-30) got on the board in the top of the third frame when Chaz Tanner doubled, moved to third on a bunt and eventually scored on an RBI hit by Brett Yates.

With its lead cut to 4-1, Tusculum added two more runs in the home half of the third inning.  Kevin Victoriano lined a run-scoring triple in the two-run frame before scoring on a sacrifice fly.

The Cavaliers would get a single run in the fifth inning on another RBI by Yates.  Tusculum responded with a run in the sixth inning on a Jim Toole RBI groundout making the score 7-2 with three innings to play.

UVa-Wise would score the next five runs to tie the game.  A Bill Steven RBI hit in the seventh cut the lead to 7-3 before the Cavs posted a four-run frame in the eighth inning.

Yates added two more RBIs in the inning while Steven plated another run and Jordan Olinger scored on a passed ball.

Tusculum would win the battle of the bullpens in the home eighth with a four-run frame and a scorless top of the ninth to claim the 11-7 win.

Yates went 3-5 at the plate with four RBIs and a run scored, Ty Lighton scored three runs, and Steven finished 3-5 with two RBIs in the final non-conference contest of the season.

Steven's 3-5 performance raised his batting average to .388 on the season, giving the senior a chance to hit .400 with a big weekend in the final four games of his collegiate career.

UVa-Wise will be back in action on Saturday when the team kicks off a four-game set with Concord University.  First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.