GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team extended its winning streak to 10 games Sunday afternoon by earning a doubleheader road sweep of Glenville State College. The Cavaliers (31-15, 22-8) took game one 12-0 in just five innings before claiming a tight, 3-2 victory in the second game of the afternoon. With the two wins to wrap up the regular season, UVa-Wise reaches the 30-win mark in a season for the first time since 2014. Their third 30-win season in the last six years, the Cavs have now won 22 Mountain East Conference games for the most league wins in a single season since joining the conference.
 
UVa-Wise lined 19 total hits in the doubleheader and scored 15 times as junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) continued her outstanding season by picking up a pair of wins inside the circle. The Cavs needed just five innings to run rule the homestanding Lady Pioneers (13-36, 7-23 MEC) in the opening game and overcame three errors in game two to hold on for the one-run victory.
 
Bats were hot for UVa-Wise in game one as the Cavs made 11 hits and got extra-base hits from five different players. UVa-Wise scored four runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings after two scoreless frames to begin the game. A three-run homer by senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) in the top of the third scored both junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) and sophomore center fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.) and put the Cavs ahead 3-0. UVa-Wise got another run in the inning when sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) reached on a Glenville State error with two outs, scoring junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.).
 
In the fourth the Cavs went up 5-0 as senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) singled to right field for an RBI and scored Millard for an unearned run. Ely then connected on a two RBI single to center field, allowing Cleary and Hernandez to score. Junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) doubled to right field for an RBI as Ely scored and put UVa-Wise ahead 8-0. The Cavs scored their final four runs of the game in the top of the fifth with freshman pinch hitter Taylor Creasey (Huddleston, Va.) scoring first on a Hernandez RBI single to the shortstop. The Cavs gained a 10-0 lead when Cleary doubled to left field for another RBI, bringing home Hernandez. UVa-Wise got its final two runs of the game when Ely knocked out a two-run homer with two outs, scoring Cleary for her second run of the game.
 
Hernandez finished the contest 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs, three runs scored and a walk, while Ely went 3-for-4 with four RBIs as well and three scores. Cleary posted a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and two runs. With their dingers, both Hernandez and Ely tie Henzel for the most home runs by a Cav this season at six.
 
Taylor Brandts earned her 18th win of the season inside the circle after giving up just one Lady Pioneer hit and striking out five in the five innings. Glenville State's Miranda Cropp (2-10) took the loss after striking out four in three and 2/3 innings of work.
 
UVa-Wise overcame a 2-0 first inning deficit in game two after a pair of errors gave the Lady Pioneers two unearned runs. Both teams tallied eight hits in the contest and left seven base runners stranded.
 
A Cavalier error in the bottom of the opening inning allowed pitcher Ally Brown to score before center fielder Hayley Olson reached on another UVa-Wise error and Cropp, now the third baseman, scored. Two innings of scoreless play ensued before the Cavs made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth. Sophomore catcher Lucindy Lawson (Duffield, Va.) connected on a RBI single to center field, bringing in Ely to make it 2-1. UVa-Wise got two unearned runs in the fifth to retake the lead, scoring first when Cleary reached on a Glenville State error and Hockey scored from third base. The Cavs took the lead at 3-2 as Henzel hit a RBI single to right field and brought Cleary across home plate.
 
The Lady Pioneers got a hit in both the sixth and the seventh innings but left runners on in scoring position in the final frame. Taylor Brandts (19-5), who retired eight consecutive batters at one point in the contest, pitched six innings in relief and struck out three to pick up the win for UVa-Wise.
 
As the designated player Henzel went 3-for-3 in game two with a RBI, while Hockey finished 2-for-3 and scored once. Glenville State left fielder Jeri Porter went 2-for-3 at the plate and designated player Taylor Brumfield had a 2-for-4 game.
 
The Lady Pioneers' Ally Brown (8-15) took the loss as the starter after tossing five complete innings and giving up all eight Cavalier hits.
 
The Cavs now turn their attention to postseason play and the 2017 MEC Softball Tournament held next Friday-Sunday, May 5-7, at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia. UVa-Wise will be the No. 2 MEC South seed in the tournament, first-round opponent and game time will be announced in a separate release later tonight.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier softball news, statistics, complete schedule and more.