WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team swept West Virginia State Sunday afternoon at Cavalier Field in its Mountain East Conference opener, stretching the Cavaliers (9-7, 2-0 MEC) win streak to five games. UVa-Wise defeated the visiting Yellow Jackets (14-10, 0-2 MEC) 2-1 in game one before earning a 3-2 victory in the second game of the day.
 
The Cavs snapped an 11-game West Virginia State win streak and contained the Yellow Jackets to 12 total hits and three runs in the two games. West Virginia State had won 12 of its last 13 games and entered Sunday's contests having already scored 133 runs this season.
 
Senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) was outstanding in both games and finished the day with four hits, four RBI and two home runs. Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) was impressive in the first game of the afternoon as she struck out 11 batters and only walked one for a complete game win. UVa-Wise's offense began to settle in during game two as UVa-Wise tallied eight hits to finish the day with 13 total.
 
Taylor Brandts struck out six consecutive batters to begin game one, before the Cavs scored both of their runs in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of solo home runs. On a full-count pitch, Taylor Brandts knocked out her first homer of the season over the right center field fence to give UVa-Wise a 1-0 lead. Moments later Hernandez collected her first home run of the season when she took a full-count pitch over the center field fence.
 
The Yellow Jackets made their first hit in the top of the third before scoring their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth. West Virginia State catcher Brittany Allison hit a solo shot over the right center field fence to make it a one-run game at 2-1.
 
The Cavs were able to hold the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the next three innings as Taylor Brandts got out of a jam in the top of the sixth. With bases loaded, Taylor Brandts threw her 11th strikeout of the game to end the half inning.
 
Hernandez finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate and junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) collected a double. Taylor Brandts improved her record to 6-3 on the season after tossing all seven frames, while West Virginia State's Allyson Burgess (3-4) took the loss after throwing the first two innings.
 
UVa-Wise scored a run in each of the first two innings in the second game of the afternoon, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a RBI double down the left field line by Hernandez. The double scored junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.). In the bottom of the second it was Hernandez once again, singling to third base for an RBI as Millard scored her second run of the contest.
 
Two scoreless innings ensued before the visitors got a run in the top of the fifth. The Yellow Jackets' Allison singled up the middle for her second RBI of the day, allowing center fielder Brookelyn Hale to reach home. The Cavs increased their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning when Hernandez connected on her second homer of the day, clearing it over the right center field fence.
 
Down to its final strike, West Virginia State made it a one-run game in the top of the seventh when Hale singled to left field on a 2-2 pitch. Her RBI scored second baseman Kayleigh Thompson but that would be it for the Yellow Jackets as freshman right-handed pitcher Raychel Lapallo (North Chesterfield, Va.) closed out the game with a strikeout.
 
Hernandez finished game two 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, while Millard went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. West Virginia State's Hale went 2-for-3 with a RBI and scored once.
 
Lapallo struck out a season-high six batters in seven innings of work to improve her record to 3-4. The Yellow Jackets' Calli Norton (3-1) was handed her first loss of the season after tossing the first two innings inside the circle.
 
The Cavs face the University of Charleston tomorrow, Monday, March 20, in a doubleheader at Cavalier Field. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
 
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