WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team earned two Mountain East Conference home wins against Glenville State College Saturday afternoon at Cavalier Field. The Cavaliers (15-9, 6-2 MEC) picked up a 7-0 shutout in game one before coming back from a 6-2 deficit in the second game of the afternoon for a 7-6 win. UVa-Wise lined a total of 16 hits in the doubleheader and was aided by six Lady Pioneer (8-16, 3-5 MEC) errors on the afternoon.
 
Scoring seven runs on six hits in game one, the Cavs used a five-run sixth inning to build a 7-0 advantage as junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) tossed her third complete game shutout of the season. UVa-Wise trailed for the majority of game two before crossing home four times in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 lead that it would not relinquish.
 
After two and a half scoreless innings of play in game one, the Cavs' first run of the day came on a solo home run shot by senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) in the bottom of the third. Holding Glenville State to just one two hits through five innings, UVa-Wise got another run in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore centerfielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.) singled through the right side for an RBI to score freshman second baseman Alexis Sheehan (King George, Va.).
 
In the bottom of the six the Cavs scored five runs on two hits and two Lady Pioneer errors. Taylor Brandts doubled to left field for an RBI, bringing home sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.), before Sheehan and pinch runner Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) scored on a Glenville State left field error. Leading 5-0, UVa-Wise would get two more unearned runs in the inning when junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) reached on a Lady Pioneer error, allowing Cleary and Hockey to score.
 
Glenville State was only able to get one on base in the seventh as Taylor Brandts retired three out of four batters to secure the win. Cleary finished the game 1-for-1 at the plate with two walks, two runs scored and a RBI, while Sheehan went 1-for-2 and also scored twice. Giving up just three hits and striking out five, Taylor Brandts improved her season record to 7-4 after seven innings inside the circle. The Lady Pioneers' Miranda Cropp (2-3) gave up two earned runs and took the loss for Glenville State after 4 1/3 innings of work.
 
Bats started to get hot for both teams in the second game of the afternoon. The Cavs recorded 10 hits, three of which came in the sixth inning, while Glenville State tallied nine. UVa-Wise scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth and got help from three Lady Pioneer errors to steal the come-from-behind win.
 
A RBI single through the left side by Glenville State first baseman Mackenzie M scored the Lady Pioneers' first run of the day in the top of the first. Glenville State would then take a 2-0 lead in the inning when right fielder Raven Greer doubled to left center field for an RBI, scoring Smith. The Cavs responded in the bottom of the frame as junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) singled to right field for Millard to reach home. UVa-Wise tied up the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second when Hockey hit a RBI single up the middle, bringing in Cleary.
 
The tie would be broken in the top of the third after the Lady Pioneers' Smith connected on a deep, two-run homer over the center field fence to give Glenville State a 4-2 lead. The Lady Pioneers got two unearned runs in the top of the fourth, the first coming when center fielder Hayley Olson got on first due to an error and then scored on a stolen base by Jeri Porter. Glenville State second baseman McKenzie Edmonds collected a RBI single to first base that allowed Porter to reach home, giving the visitors a 6-2 advantage.
 
Freshman shortstop Nikki Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) gave UVa-Wise a run in the bottom of the fourth when Sheehan reached first base on a fielder's choice. The Cavs held the Lady Pioneers to no runs in the top of the fifth and sixth despite Glenville State getting two base runners on in the sixth.
 
A RBI single to left center field by Sheehan scored Hockey in the bottom of the sixth to make it a two-run game once again at 6-4. Later in the inning Ely grounded out to first base, bringing in Millard. Moments later sophomore catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) doubled to right field to tie up the score at 6-6 as junior designated player Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) reached home. UVa-Wise scored its go-ahead run when Cleary reached on a Lady Pioneer fielding error, allowing Bennett to score the game-winning run.
 
Taylor Brandts came out of the bullpen to pitch in the top of the seventh and retired three straight batters, including striking out one, to secure the win and pick up her first save of the season.
 
Hockey went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game, scored a run and collected an RBI, while Ely finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Millard also went 2-for-4 and scored twice as Sheehan went 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI. Smith of Glenville State was 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI and two runs scored. Edmonds went 2-for-3 for the Lady Pioneers and Greer finished 2-for-4, each tallying an RBI.
 
Senior right-hander Kale (4-0) struck out six to pick up her fourth win of the week in 5 1/3 innings of relief work. Glenville State's Tori Ward (2-4) took the loss for the Lady Pioneers after tossing one inning inside the circle and facing all but two batters in the sixth.
 
The Cavs will now hit the road for a trio of doubleheaders starting Wednesday, March 29, at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. Wednesday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.
 
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