WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise softball dropped a pair of Mountain East Conference home games Saturday afternoon against Wheeling Jesuit University. The host Cavaliers (17-18, 7-7 MEC) were defeated 10-0 in five innings by the visiting Lady Cardinals (20-10, 8-2 MEC) in game one before falling 4-2 in a 10-inning game two affair.
 
With a strong wind blowing in from the outfield and stout pitching by Wheeling Jesuit, the Cavs were unable to display the power they possess. Only three hits in game one and six in game two, coupled with 22 hits and 14 runs scored by the Lady Cardinals, resulted in two UVa-Wise losses. The Cavs were only able to score a twice the doubleheader as Wheeling Jesuit pitchers struck out 23 UVa-Wise batters in the two games.
 
A six-run fifth inning sealed the deal for the Lady Cardinals in game one. Wheeling Jesuit got its first run of the day in the first inning on a Rachel Conrad RBI single to right field that brought home Victoria Scott. The Lady Cardinals then took a 3-0 lead on the Cavs in the top of the third when Morgan Stohlman singled through the left side for a RBI, scoring Ali Smith, before Dana Achille doubled to right field for Stohlman to score.
 
Kelsi Thompson of Wheeling Jesuit hit a sacrifice fly to right field in the fourth, allowing Molly Welsh to reach home plate and further the Lady Cardinals advantage.
 
Wheeling Jesuit's first run of the fifth came on a Cassie Holstein single to center field that scored Achille. Holding a 5-0 lead on UVa-Wise, the Lady Cardinals extended it to 6-0 when Scott was walked with bases loaded. The final four runs in game one were scored off of a Thompson grand slam over the left center field wall, making it a 10-0 game heading into the bottom of the fifth.
 
UVa-Wise was unable to get anything going in the inning as Wheeling Jesuit left-handed pitcher Mallory Chapman retired three-straight batters.
 
The Lady Cardinals' Stohlman went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game one with an RBI and a run scored, while Chapman (10-5) struck out eight batters in five innings pitched to get the win.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Delany Turner (Leesburg, Va.) took the loss for the Cavs after three innings of work, dropping her season mark to 6-6.
 
The Cavs had opportunities for a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh and left two runners on base but could not capitalize as a two-run 10th inning willed Wheeling Jesuit to the doubleheader sweep.
 
After three and a half scoreless innings, senior designated player Mindy Combs (Lebanon, Va.) singled through the left side for a RBI, giving the Cavs a 1-0 lead when senior shortstop Erika McLaughlin (Haymarket, Va.) reach home plate. An unearned run tied up the game at 1-1 when Wheeling Jesuit's Achille grounded out to McLaughlin for a RBI with Stohlman scoring.
 
A solo home run over the left center field wall in the home portion of the sixth inning by sophomore third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) gave the Cavs a 2-1 lead heading into the final inning of regulation. However, the score would be quickly tied up at 2-2 in the top of the seventh after another unearned run was brought in by Wheeling Jesuit. The Lady Cardinals' Marissa Cangelosi reached first on a throwing error off of an attempted sacrifice bunt, which allowed Achille to reach home from second.
 
Despite having a runner on first and second with only one out recorded, the Cavs were unable to score a run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. After getting out of a jam in the top of the ninth when Wheeling Jesuit loaded the bases, UVa-Wise was not able to stop the Lady Cardinals in the 10th.
 
With the international tiebreaker rule coming into effect, Wheeling Jesuit got a run when Achille singled to right field for an RBI, allowing pinch runner Amanda Mangelo to score. Having only one out recorded in the inning and bases loaded, the Lady Cardinals' Welsh grounded out to second base for a RBI with Michaela Miller scoring to give Wheeling Jesuit a commanding 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 10th, UVa-Wise saw three-straight batters retired as Wheeling Jesuit right-handed pitcher Kori Locke struck out the Cavs' final two.
 
Holstein led the Lady Cardinals in game two of the day, going 3-for-5 at the plate. Locke (6-2) earned the win for Wheeling Jesuit after 3 2/3 innings of work inside the circle, striking out seven batters in the process.
 
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) went the distance for the Cavs, taking the loss after striking out eight batter to drop her record to 8-5 on the season.
 
The Cavs continue their six-game homestand Sunday with a doubleheader against West Liberty University, game one is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start from Cavalier Field.
 
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