TROUTVILLE, Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to 24th-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan Friday night in the Mountain East Conference Tournament second round at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville, Virginia. Seeded fourth in the MEC South division, the Cavaliers (26-29, 15-17 MEC) were only able to manage two hits in the game as the MEC South division No. 2 seed Lady Bobcats (47-7, 27-5 MEC) used three hits to score three runs in what was mostly a pitching duel.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan starting right-handed pitcher Hannah Vet struck out three batters and only allowed two Cavalier hits to pick up her 19th win of the season. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) tossed a complete game for the Cavs, only giving up three hits and also striking out three.
 
The Lady Bobcats scored all three runs in the home portion of the third after two and a half scoreless innings. Ashley Hurey scored the first run of the game when she reached home on a wild pitch. A sacrifice RBI groundout to second base by Anna Eggleston led to Tori Pogue scoring to give West Virginia Wesleyan a 2-0 lead. Another sacrifice, this time a fly out to right field by Krista Waggoner, scored Brooklyn Waddell for the last run of the inning and the game.
 
UVa-Wise was not able to score any runs in the next three innings of play as the Cavs' two hits came in the sixth. Sophomore right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) collected UVa-Wise's first hit in the inning with a single to right center before senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) singled up the middle. However, the Cavs left one stranded when West Virginia Wesleyan ended the inning on a unique ground out double play in which the third baseman thought the inning was over on the first out but was able to get a second out at home when Hernandez attempted to score from third.
 
The Cavs will now take on Wheeling Jesuit University in the MEC tournament consolation bracket second round tomorrow at 12 p.m. The Lady Cardinals (35-19, 22-10 MEC) are the No. 2 seed in the MEC North division. Wheeling Jesuit loss to Concord 6-0 in the first round of the tournament before defeating Notre Dame College 3-2 in 10 innings in the consolation bracket first round.
 
Earlier this season, UVa-Wise was swept by Wheeling Jesuit in a home doubleheader, falling 10-0 in five innings in game one before losing 4-2 in 10 innings in game two.
 
Admission to the 2016 MEC Softball Tournament is $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass, all students can receive a day pass for $5.
 
Complete tournament information, including the most up to date schedule, matchups and tournament bracket can be found by visiting mountianeast.org or by clicking on the link at the top of the page.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier softball news, statistics, complete schedule and more.