CHARLESTON, W.Va. – UVa-Wise softball split its second Mountain East Conference road doubleheader of the weekend Sunday afternoon at the University of Charleston. The Cavaliers (17-13, 8-6 MEC) earned a 3-0 shutout in game one before falling 3-0 in the second game of the day. UVa-Wise tallied 10 hits in the first game of the afternoon before the host Golden Eagles (20-9, 10-2 MEC) held the Cavs to just one hit in game two.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) was fantastic in game one, holding Charleston to just two hits and striking out nine batters. Game two was just the opposite for both teams as the Golden Eagles lined seven hits and right-hander Alli Burdette tossed a near no-hitter with 12 strikeouts.
 
UVa-Wise jumped on Charleston early and scored two runs in the opening inning to start the doubleheader. Following a Golden Eagle fielding error, junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) tripled to right center field for an RBI, scoring sophomore center fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.). The Cavs scored another run on the next at bat when junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) singled to left field for Henzel to reach home.
 
Two and a half scoreless innings ensued as Brandts struck out five in the first two innings. UVa-Wise tacked on another run in the top of the fourth after loading the bases and collecting four singles. Ely posted her second RBI single of the afternoon, this time brining in senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) to give the Cavs a 3-0 lead that they would not relinquish.
 
Charleston got both of its hits in the bottom of the fourth but a strikeout by Brandts left two Golden Eagle runners stranded and ended the frame. Brandts (9-5) retired the final 10 Charleston batters in consecutive fashion to clinch the UVa-Wise victory. It was Brandts' second straight complete game shutout and fifth of the season.
 
Junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) went 3-for-4 at the plate in the game, while Ely and Brandts each finished 2-for-4 and Cleary 1-for-2. The Golden Eagles' Jessie Rowe (10-4) took the loss after pitching all seven innings.
 
Hits came at a premium the first two and a half inning of game two as a Charleston triple in the bottom of the first was the lone hit. The Golden Eagles' Burdette retired 13 consecutive Cavalier batters to start the game and struck out nine in the first four innings.
 
Charleston scored twice in the bottom of the third after a RBI single to center field by catcher Haleigh Christopher allowed center fielder Rachelle Toppings to reach home. The Golden Eagles then got an unearned run off of a passed ball as third baseman Karli Pinkerton scored.
 
UVa-Wise's lone hit of the game came in the top of the fifth when sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) doubled to left field. She advanced to third on a passed ball before Charleston's Burdette struck out two more to end the half inning. A RBI single to center field by shortstop Monica Carter allowed Toppings to score her second run of the game and gave the Golden Eagles a three-run lead. Other than a walk the Cavs couldn't get anything going in the sixth or the seventh, making the 3-0 score final.
 
Toppings and Carter each finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate for Charleston. Burdette (9-5) earned the complete game shutout for the Golden Eagles, her ninth win of the season inside the circle.
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) took her second loss of the season after tossing all six innings and striking out one.
 
The Cavs return to Wise and the comforts of Cavalier Field for a non-conference doubleheader Thursday, April 6, when UVa-Wise takes on Tusculum College starting at 2 p.m.
 
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