WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team split a pair of games at Cavalier Field Sunday afternoon in its home opening doubleheader against Lees-McRae College. The Cavaliers (4-6) picked up a 7-0 shutout in game two of the day after collecting nine hits as junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) held the visiting Bobcats (6-10) to just three hits. In game one of the day, UVa-Wise was edged 2-1 in a tight, low-scoring contest.
 
The Cavs got a big outing from junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) and junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) in the second game, the two combining for five RBI, five hits and three runs scored. Taylor Brandts (2-3) struck out six batters in the contest and didn't give up a run, pitching all seven innings to earn the complete game shutout.
 
After two scoreless innings to begin the game, UVa-Wise took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Henzel doubled to right field for a pair of RBI as both Millard and Taylor Brandts reached home. The Cavs went on a tear two innings later in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits. Henzel picked up her second two RBI hit of the game on a single to center field, allowing sophomore center fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.) to score and Taylor Brandts to grab her second run of the contest. Later in the inning, senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) struck a hard-hit double down the left field line for two more RBI, scoring Henzel and Millard.
 
UVa-Wise did more damage in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a run on a Millard single that brought freshman outfielder Taylor Creasey (Huddleston, Va.) across home plate as a pinch runner for her first collegiate run. The Cavs retired three batters in the top of the seventh on two groundouts and a pop up to clinch the 7-0 victory.
 
Henzel finished the game with four RBI and a run scored after going 2-for-4 at the plate. Millard went 3-for-4 and scored twice with a RBI. Hernandez's double accounted for the other two RBI, while Taylor Brandts was a perfect 2-for-2.
 
The Bobcats' Taylor Billings tossed 5 2/3 innings to take the loss for Lees-McRae, dropping her to 1-3 on the season.
 
UVa-Wise was only able to make four hits on reining Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week Kara Cunningham in game one of the afternoon as the Bobcats collected eight hits. The Cavs left nine base runners stranded in the game and were struck out at the plate eight different times.
 
Lees-McRae held UVa-Wise scoreless through two innings of play and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after third baseman Sarah Tucker singled to center field for the Bobcats' Valerie Hickey to reach home. A Henzel RBI double to center field in the bottom of the third tied up the score at 1-1 for UVa-Wise with Millard scoring on the play.
 
Both teams were held without a score in both the fourth and the fifth before Lees-McRae got a run in the top of the sixth. With one out recorded, the Bobcats' Tucker connected on a deep-hit ball to the left gap and both Hockey and sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) took off to make the play. The two collided at full speed in the attempt to make the catch, while Tucker rounded third and scored on the throw from the outfield. Tucker's double to left center field that resulted in a score proved to be the game-winning run for Lees-McRae.
 
The Cavs loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the sixth but could not earn a run as pinch hitters Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) and Alexis Sheehan (King George, Va.) were unable to bring anyone home. The Bobcats' Cunningham struck out two to hold off Millard in scoring position at second in the bottom of the seventh, making the 2-1 score final.
 
Tucker finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Lees-McRae got two hits in four at-bats from Hickey. Cunningham (4-3) earned the win inside the circle after going the distance for the Bobcats.
 
Freshman right-hander Raychel Lapallo (North Chesterfield, Va.) took the loss for UVa-Wise after six innings pitched and one batter faced in the seventh.
 
After playing 10 games in eight days, the Cavs will have nearly three weeks off from competition before returning to game action. UVa-Wise will travel to South Carolina for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12. The Cavs take on Newberry College Saturday, March 11, in Newberry, South Carolina before facing Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina, Sunday, March 12. The doubleheader at Newberry begins at 1 p.m. while the games at Coker get underway at 12 p.m.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier softball news, statistics, complete schedule and more.