CARY, N.C. - - A day after completing a doubleheader sweep of St. Augustine's, UVa-Wise earned a doubleheader split against the Falcons on Sunday to win the team's season opening series 3-1. Redshirt freshman Josh Haga had a big day at the plate for the Cavaliers as the Salem, Va. native belted his first collegiate homer as part of a day that saw him drive in four runs and score three times in the two games.
St. Augustine's (1-5) got off to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the opener. The Falcons took advantage of an error, a stolen base and a bunt single to plate the two early runs.
UVa-Wise (3-1) got its offense going in the top of the second when freshman Joey Skov doubled to lead off the frame. The shortstop would later score on an infield single by Stuart Paz; the Cavs tied the game when senior Vinny Kuchenbuch walked with the bases loaded to plate Haga who had also walked in the inning.
An inning later, Haga would blast a three-run homerun as part of a four-run inning for the visitors. UVa-Wise picked up its fourth run of the inning on a RBI double by Paz.
The lead was short lived for Hank Banner's club as the Falcons responded with five runs in the home half of the inning to take a 7-6 lead. St. Augustine stole home twice in the frame and took advantage of three UVa-Wise errors for the big inning.
The Falcons would tack on a run an inning later when Alexis Garcia doubled home Corey Brassington.
St. Augustine would receive four innings of shutout relief from Chris Ingram and Collin Pippin to secure the team's first win of 2017.
Paz led the UVa-Wise hit-attack with two base hits while Haga added a pair of runs to his three RBI.
Game two saw the collegiate debut of left-hander Trevor Nevill. The Hoover, Ala. product tossed four innings of shutout ball in his UVa-Wise debut and left the game with a 1-0 lead.
The Cavs early run came when Tyler Blaum hit into a double play in the second inning. Nevill allowed just two hits in his four innings of work while walking three.
St. Augustine's tied the game in the home fifth on a two-out RBI double by Johnathan Sierra. The Falcons would miss a chance to take the lead as UVa-Wise freshman Alex Persinger got out of the jam by getting Garcia to groundout to third.
Two out lightning would prove to be the difference for the Cavs as the visitors struck for two runs in the top of the seventh to win the game. Freshman Jordan Turner would be hit by a pitch to extend the inning. The Berryville, Va. native would then steal second and score when Haga tripled down the right field line. Haga would also score on the play as the Falcons would commit an error trying to throw the outfielder out at third base.
Sophomore Alex Dobry would come in out of the bullpen to close the door, earning his first save of the year.
Fellow sophomore Dylan Luttrell picked up the mound win as he tossed a scoreless sixth inning.
Former John I. Burton High School standout Matthew Branham joined Paz to lead the UVa-Wise offense with two hits each.
The Cavs are 3-1 for the second consecutive season; UVa-Wise will return to action Friday when the team begins a three-game series at Carson-Newman.
