WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise softball split a pair of key Mountain East Conference home games against 13th-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan Friday afternoon at Cavalier Field. The Cavaliers (13-9, 4-2 MEC) got a three-run walk-off home run from junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two to grab a 6-4 win. The league-leading visiting Lady Bobcats (17-3, 5-1 MEC) took game one 4-1 after a solid performance from right-handed pitcher Hannah Vet.
 
Trailing 4-1 heading into the seventh in game two, UVa-Wise was able to work itself out of jam with bases loaded in the top of the inning before scoring five runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame. The Cavs were only able to collect five hits in the contest as West Virginia Wesleyan scored four times on seven hits. The Lady Bobcats left eight base runners stranded in the game, including three in the top of the seventh.
 
UVa-Wise took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) blasted out her second home run of the year, a solo shot over center field. Freshman right-hander Raychel Lapallo (North Chesterfield, Va.) kept West Virginia Wesleyan at bay before the Lady Bobcats tied the game in the top of the fourth on a RBI single from first baseman Jessica Rodriguez.
 
The Cavs were unable to get anything going in either the fourth or the fifth before West Virginia Wesleyan scored three runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 4-1. Right fielder Morgan Bruce singled through the right side as Olivia Gore advanced to second and then scored on the throw, before a Rodriguez sacrifice fly out to left field scored Bruce. The Lady Bobcats got their final run of the inning and the game when designated player Brittani Bible to left center field for an RBI, bringing in catcher Sara Scoone.
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) came in for Lapallo in the sixth and was put to the test in the top of the seventh. With bases loaded and only one out, Kale struck out Scoone before freshman shortstop Nikki Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) made an incredible play to first to record the third out.
 
Needing base runners, UVa-Wise started the bottom portion of the seventh with a walk and a double to right field from freshman designated player Alexis Sheehan (King George, Va.). A pitching change by West Virginia Wesleyan resulted in another walk before the Lady Bobcats brought back starting left-hander Sayaka Foley. A wild pitch gave the Cavs their first run of the inning as base runners advanced to second and third and sophomore catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) reached home. Smith singled to right field on the next at bat for an RBI as Sheehan scored, making it a one-run game with no outs. Henzel came in to pinch hit with runners in the corners and took a 2-0 pitch out of the park over the right center field fence for a three-run walk-off homer. Her second dinger of the season scoring freshman pinch runner Kelsy Padgett (Goodview, Va.) and Smith for a Cav victory.
 
Kale (3-0) earned her third win of the week after tossing two innings inside the circle, giving up just two hits and striking out one.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan's Bruce went 2-for-2 at the plate and scored two runs while Rodriguez tallied two RBI. Foley (5-2) took the loss for the Lady Bobcats after six innings of work and five strikeouts. Right-hander Alyssa Shawgo faced just one batter and tossed five pitches in the seventh inning but gave up a run.
 
With its game two victory, UVa-Wise handed West Virginia Wesleyan its first MEC loss of the season. The Lady Bobcats are ranked No. 13 according to the latest National Fastpicth Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II poll.
 
Both teams got six hits in the first game of the afternoon but timely hits from West Virginia Wesleyan led to four runs for the visitors. UVa-Wise left eight runners stranded in the game one loss.
 
After three scoreless innings of play and only one hit by each team, the Lady Bobcats took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. West Virginia Wesleyan's Bible reached on a fielder's choice with bases loaded as Gore scored before third baseman Aylin Gutiernez connected on a RBI single to right field. The Cavs left runners stranded in the corners in the bottom of the inning before the Lady Bobcats tacked on another run in the top of the fifth. Following a UVa-Wise error, West Virginia Wesleyan's Bruce collected a sacrifice bunt RBI for center fielder Tori Pogue to score an unearned run.
 
The Cavs were unable to score any runs in the bottom of the fifth despite having runners in the corners once again. The Lady Bobcats got one last run in the seventh to go up 4-1 when Gore flied out to left field for a sacrifice, bringing in shortstop Taylor Barnett. UVa-Wise's lone run of the game came unearned in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) reached on a fielding error, allowing Smith to score from third base.
 
Junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) went 2-for-4 at the plate in the game while West Virginia Wesleyan's Barnett went 2-for-3. Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) (6-4) threw a complete game to take the loss for the Cavs despite striking out six. The Lady Bobcats' Vet (7-0) remained undefeated with a complete game win, giving up no earned runs and walking just her first batter of the season.
 
The Cavs will wrap up their 10-game homestand tomorrow, Saturday, March 26, with a doubleheader against Glenville State College. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m. from Cavalier Field.
 
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