WISE - - Tusculum College used a six-run seventh inning to help overcome a four-run deficit to claim a 12-6 victory over UVa-Wise at Burchell Stallard Field Tuesday. The Pioneers' Nick Lacina provided a bulk of the offensive damage by going 4-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Lacina scored the tying run in the fifth inning before his base hit started the six-run seventh.
Following back-to-back scoreless innings by UVa-Wise (9-5) starter Steven Klaiber, the Cavaliers erupted for four runs in the home second.
Matt Wright got the scoring going when his RBI single scored Ben Coffman who had led off the frame with a double. Sophomore Vinny Kuchenbuch plated UVa-Wise's second run of the inning when his run-scoring single brought Wright home. Two more runs scored when Marcus Elmore doubled on an 0-2 pitch just inside the third base bag.
The score would remain unchanged until the top of the fourth. Tusculum (17-6) picked up a one-out single by Lacina before Jeovanny Tolentino brought him home with a two-out RBI single.
The run was unearned as the Cavs made their first of six errors in the loss.
A three-run fifth inning tied the game for the Pioneers. Jeremy Glore was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning but Cavs' reliever Nathan Hatmaker was on the cusp of getting out of the frame as he struck out Dante Key and got Kevin Victoriano to pop out, leaving Glore at first base.
Following a Creighton Wilke walk, Lacine doubled in Glore ending the day for Hatmaker. Cody Jewell then took the mound in search of putting the inning to rest but the right-hander was unable to do so before Tusculum tied the game on a two-out two-RBI single by John Topoleski.
Pioneers' reliever Zach Slagle came out of the bullpen and turned in three innings of scoreless relief allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Slagle's strong relief aided Tusculum to taking the lead in the sixth inning. Tolentino scored the go-ahead run when Key's sacrifice fly plated another unearned run for the Pioneers.
The six-run seventh inning capped a stretch of four consecutive scoring innings for Tusculum. Jim Tolle, Zack Finchum, Jordan Huntley and Victoriano each had a RBI in the frame while a pair of wild pitches led to the two other runs.
UVa-Wise picked up a pair of unearned runs of its own in the home eighth on a two-RBI single by Ty Lighton.
The game's final run came when Tusculum's Tanner Maloof doubled in Huntley.
The win completed a season sweep of the series for Tusculum, the Pioneers claimed an 11-0 victory over the Cavs earlier this season.
Slagle picked up the win on the mound to improve to 3-1 on the year while Jewell was saddled with his first loss of the season (2-1).
Tolentino picked up two hits to join Lacina as Pioneers with multiple hits in the win. Nine separate Cavs picked up one hit each.
UVa-Wise opens MEC play Friday when Wheeling Jesuit visits Stallard Field for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
