SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The UVa-Wise softball team split a pair of Mountain East Conference road games Sunday afternoon at Notre Dame College. The Cavaliers (24-23, 14-12 MEC) lost a one-run 2-1 game in the doubleheader opener before defeating the host Falcons (14-29, 8-18 MEC) 1-0 in another one-run affair.
 
Sixteen combined hits by the two teams, including nine by Notre Dame College, in game one of the afternoon led to just two earned runs as the Falcons scored a go-ahead unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hits came at a premium in the second game of the doubleheader, especially for Notre Dame College who was only able to get two hits off of UVa-Wise freshman right-handed pitcher Delany Turner (Leesburg, Va.).
 
In her first game back inside the circle since being out with injury from a hit by pitch to the head, Turner went the distance in game two to pick up her seventh win of the season. Striking out three batters and only giving up two hits, Turner came up with two huge strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on second and third and only one out recorded.
 
The lone run of the game came in the Cavs' portion of the third inning when senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) singled to center field for a RBI, scoring freshman catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.). The Falcons were in position to tie up the score or take the lead in the home portion of the seventh after a walk, a bunt single and a sacrifice bunt but the clutch strikeouts by Turner clinched the UVa-Wise victory.
 
Freshman left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) led the Cavs at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance in the second game. Notre Dame College's Ashley Pokraka (9-17) took the game two loss after tossing her second complete game of the day and striking out seven batters.
 
After four scoreless innings in the first game of the day, UVa-Wise got its lone run of the contest in the visiting portion of the fifth. A solo home run shot over the center field wall by senior shortstop Erika McLaughlin (Haymarket, Va.) gave the Cavs a 1-0 lead.
 
The Falcons responded in the bottom of the fifth and tied up the score at 1-1 when Shelby Stephens doubled to left center field for an RBI, allowing Sarah Depp to reach home from second. Notre Dame College scored its go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth after a Perris Stevens double to right center. Mackenzie Wallace scored an unearned run on the play after reaching first on a Cavalier error and advancing to second.
 
UVa-Wise did get two on with no outs in the top of the seventh but the Cavs were not able to score a run as Notre Dame College right-handed pitcher Pokraka retired the next three batters.
 
Pokraka went the distance for the Falcons to claim the win, impressively striking out 10 UVa-Wise batters. Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) struck out six but took the loss for UVa-Wise in six innings of work, dropping her record to 13-8 on the season.
 
Wallace led the Falcons at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
McLaughlin went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Cavs, while Bennett also got two hits in three at bats.
 
The Cavs wrap up their 10-game road trip Tuesday when they travel to Concord University for a pivotal MEC doubleheader, first pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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