HICKORY, N.C. – UVa-Wise softball split a pair of games Sunday at Lenoir-Rhyne University's Second Annual Bear Bash in Hickory, North Carolina. The Cavaliers (3-1) defeated Johnson C. Smith University 8-5 in the first game of the day behind a six-run first inning, before being edged by Lees-McRae College 6-5 in eight innings.
 
Sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) and junior first baseman Monica Brandts (King George, Va.) each tallied three RBI and two hits in the win against Johnson C. Smith as freshman right-handed pitcher Raychel Lapallo (North Chesterfield, Va.) gave up just two hits and no runs in 4 2/3 innings of work in relief.
 
A Bennett two RBI single down the left field line scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the opening inning. Junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) and senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) scored to give UVa-Wise the 2-0 advantage, before Monica Brandts singled to center field for two more RBI with Bennett and sophomore designated player Jackie Yahner (Vienna, Va.) reaching home. The inning was extended as the Cavs collected to more runs to take a 6-0 lead. Junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) knocked in a two RBI triple to center field, bringing in Monica Brandts and freshman shortstop Alexis Sheehan (King George, Va.).
 
The Golden Bulls got one run in the second when Tia Greene grounded out for an RBI, allowing Breanna Archibald to score. A four-run third by Johnson C. Smith got the Golden Bulls within one at 6-5. Four RBI singles were recorded in the inning by Johnson C. Smith's Morgan Hasty, Kaitlin Santos, Archibald and Greene. However, that would be it for the Golden Bulls as Johnson C. Smith was held scoreless for the remainder of the game.
 
UVa-Wise tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 7-5 when sophomore catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) stole third and then crossed home on an error that allowed Bennett to reach first. The Cavs scored one last run in the top of the seventh to make the 8-5 score final after Lawson scored her second unearned run of the game, this time off of an error that allowed Monica Brandts to reach first.
 
Both Bennett and Monica Brandts finished 2-for-4 at the plate in the game as Lawson scored twice and Millard had two RBI. Senior right-handed pitcher Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) (1-0) started the game and tossed for 2 1/3 innings before Lapallo pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief to claim the win. John C. Smith's Tasia Bolling gave up six runs in 2/3 innings of work to receive the loss for the Golden Bulls.
 
Ely went 3-for-3 at the plate and posted two RBI in the second game of the day against Lees-McRae but it wasn't enough as the Cavs fell in the extra inning.
 
The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Sarah Tucker hit a RBI single to allow Valerie Hickey to score an unearned run. In her first at bat in the top of the third, Ely smacked a two RBI single to center field for Hernandez and Millard to reach home and give UVa-Wise a 2-1 advantage. In the bottom of the inning, Lees-McRae tied up the game as Emily Merriam singled for an RBI and then took the lead on a Hickey RBI single to center field.
 
The Cavs tied up the game once more in the top of the fifth at 3-3 after Hernandez connected on a center-field double that brought in Millard for her second score of the contest. Both teams would remain scoreless for the following two and a half innings, forcing an extra frame.
 
Senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) hit the Cavs' first home run of the 2017 season when she cleared the fence in the top of the eighth for a pair of RBI. Cleary's homer scored Bennett and UVa-Wise held a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. However, the Bobcats would score three runs in the frame including a two-run walk-off single by Lees-McRae's Kara Cunningham. After a RBI single by Noel Cassidy to get the Bobcats within one at 5-4, Lees-McRae's Karly McRary and Kolleen Spears both scored on Cunningham's two RBI single for the 6-5 victory.
 
Hernandez and Millard each finished 2-for-4 at the plate in the game as junior right-hander Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) (1-1) took the loss inside the circle after going the distance in 7 2-3 innings. The Bobcats' Gabrielle Moyer claimed the win after pitching 4 1/3 innings for Lees-McRae.
 
The Cavs remain away from home and play a doubleheader at Carson-Newman University Tuesday afternoon in Jefferson City, Tennessee. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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