JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The UVa-Wise softball team fell in a pair of non-conference games Tuesday afternoon at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The Cavaliers (3-3) were defeated 7-3 in game one of the doubleheader before the Eagles (8-2) claimed a 4-0 win in game two.
 
A four run bottom of the fifth inning by Carson-Newman broke a 3-3 tie in game one, three of the Eagles' runs coming unearned. In game two, Carson-Newman's Lacie Rinus pitched a complete game shutout and held UVa-Wise to just two hits in the seven innings.
 
The Cavs struck first in game one of the doubleheader as sophomore catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) doubled into right field for a RBI in the top of the first, bringing home sophomore center fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.). In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles scored one of their four unearned runs after a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Toppel allowed Abby Fiessinger to reach third and then home.
 
UVa-Wise got a pair of runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead after sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) hit a two RBI single through the right side, scoring junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) and senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.). The Cavs' lead didn't last long as Carson-Newman responded in the bottom of the third, first, with a Fiessinger solo home run over the right-field fence. The Eagles then tied up the ball game at 3-3 with a Taylor Scott RBI double to center field for Toppel to score.
 
Both teams remained scoreless for the next inning and a half before Carson-Newman collected four runs in the fifth, three of which were unearned due to a UVa-Wise fielding error. Sarah Barrett scored first to break the 3-3 tie when Scott was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Toppel scored her second run of the game to give the Eagles a 5-3 advantage after Kaite Pritchett was walked for an RBI. Carson-Newman got two more unearned runs before the frame was over, building a 7-3 advantage off of a Allison Webster two RBI single to right field.
 
The Cavs were unable to register a hit in the sixth and the seventh, making the 7-3 score final. Bennett led UVa-Wise with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate and two RBI. Reigning Mountain East Conference Player of the Week Ely went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
 
Only giving up three earned runs, freshman right-hander Raychel Lapallo (North Chesterfield, Va.) (1-1) tossed all six innings for the Cavs to take the loss. The Eagles' Webster improved to 4-1 on the season after pitching a complete game.
 
Hits came at a premium for UVa-Wise in game two as Carson-Newman tallied nine hits and scored four times to claim the win. Freshman left-handed pitcher Rinus kept the Cavs hitless through four innings before UVa-Wise got a single in the fifth and the seventh.
 
The Eagles' first run of the game came in the bottom of the second when Rinus scored on a wild pitch. In the third, Carson-Newman made it a 2-0 game after Rinus knocked in a RBI double to left center field for KaraLynne Levi to reach home.
 
Scott scored an unearned run for the Eagles in the fifth after a Cavalier throwing error followed a fielder's choice play to second base. The Eagles tacked on one last run in the bottom of the sixth as Toppel brought in Fiessinger with a RBI single to the shortstop.
 
Bennett went 1-for-3 at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, while freshman Kelsy Padgett collected her first collegiate career hit when she pinch hit in the seventh. Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) (1-2) went the distance for UVa-Wise to take the loss.
 
Rinus claimed the two-hit, shutout win for Carson-Newman, moving her to 4-1 on the season.
 
With the two wins, Carson-Newman head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield recorded her 1,100 career coaching win in her 32nd season at the helm of the Eagles softball program. She owns a winning percentage of .742 for her career.
 
The Cavs will remain on the road and travel to nearby and rival King University in Bristol, Tennessee, Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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