DAHLONEGA, Ga. – UVa-Wise softball picked up a 5-2 win Sunday afternoon over Coker College at University of North Georgia's Captain D's Surf & Turf Classic, after being defeated by Wingate University in the morning, 6-1.
The Cavaliers (7-6) got eight hits on the Cobras (8-10-1) and used a three-run first inning and two-run sixth to defeat Coker.
UVa-Wise got things going in the opening inning when sophomore catcher
Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) tripled down the right field line to bring home senior second baseman
Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) and sophomore shortstop
Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.). Junior right-handed pitcher
Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) then singled to the shortstop for a RBI as Henzel crossed home plate on the hit.
Coker would get a run in the bottom of the second after Taylor Barcomb tripled down the right field line and then reached scored on a fielder's choice. The Cobras got within one run at 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning after Barcomb scored again, this time on a Maria Williamson double down the left field line.
In the top of the sixth UVa-Wise tacked on two more runs, the first coming on a double by senior designated player
Mindy Combs (Lebanon, Va.) that brought in Hernandez. Junior third baseman
Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Combs.
Leading 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cavs were able to stop the Cobras from scoring despite Coker loading the bases twice. With only one out and the bases loaded, Kale threw out Coker's Ashley Gallman at home plate before striking out Makayla Shore for the third out.
The Cavs got two runners on in scoring position in the top of the seventh but could not score, however, Kale retired three-straight batters in the bottom of the inning to close out the game.
Hernandez led the Cavs with three hits in four at bats, scoring twice while Henzel tallied two hits and two RBI. Kale pitched the entire game for the Cavs and picked up the win, improving her record to 3-3 on the season.
Barcomb led the Cobras with two hits in three at bats and two runs scored, while Tabitha Allen (3-5) took the loss in the circle after six innings of work.
The Cavs got only five hits in this morning's game against Wingate as the Bulldogs (12-4) claimed 12 of their own. Wingate scored three times in the seventh inning and struck out three-consecutive Cavs in the bottom of inning to secure the win.
Both teams scored in the first inning as Wingate's Emily Usiak doubled to center field and then advanced to third on a error by freshman center fielder
Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.), allowing Olivia Smith to reach home. UVa-Wise got its run to tie up the game at 1-1 when freshman first baseman
Delany Turner (Leesburg, Va.) singled to third base, bringing in freshman right fielder
Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) for the score. That would be the only run UVa-Wise would score in the game.
The Bulldogs took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third after Mellena Helms was able to score from second base because of a Bennett error. A double down the right field line by Usiak brought Taylor Laskey across the plate for the Bulldogs second score of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Usiak hit a two-run home run over the left center field wall as Morgan Hendrix scored with the homer. The Bulldogs got their last run of the game and made it 6-1 when Naomi Sapp hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Jordan Wilson to reach home.
Wingate's Usiak went 4-for-4 at the plate, recorded four RBIs and scored a run to lead the Bulldogs. Rachel Weidner (4-2) picked up the win for Wingate, pitching all seven innings and striking out 11 batters.
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher
Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) took the loss for the Cavs in seven innings, dropping her record to 2-2 on the season.
The Cavs will return home for a non-conference doubleheader against Carson-Newman University at Cavalier Field Tuesday starting at 1 p.m.
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uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier softball news, statistics, complete schedule and more.
