GLEN DALE, W.Va. – UVa-Wise softball went 1-1 against Wheeling Jesuit University in a Mountain East Conference road doubleheader Saturday night at Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia. Behind a two-hit, 14 strikeout performance from junior right hander Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.), the Cavaliers (18-14, 9-7 MEC) defeated the Cardinals (14-14, 8-8 MEC) 4-0 in game one. UVa-Wise and Wheeling Jesuit combined for 19 hits and 11 runs in the second game of the night as the Cardinals claimed an 8-3 win after a five-run fourth inning.
 
The Cavs homered twice in game one and collected seven hits, while Taylor Brandts' 14 strikeouts were a career best. After two scoreless innings, sophomore center fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.) hit her first career home run in the top of the third, a two-run shot over left center field. Hockey's homer gave UVa-Wise a 2-0 lead as junior right fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.) scored.
 
Junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) knocked out the Cavs' second home run of the night the very next inning in the top of the fourth. Her fourth homer of the season cleared the right field fence and put UVa-Wise up 3-0. The Cavs got one more run in the fifth when Hockey reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI, allowing senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) to score.
 
Taylor Brandts didn't give up a hit in the final four innings as UVa-Wise turned a double play to end the game. Improving her record to 10-5 on the season, Taylor Brandts picked up 10th complete game win inside the circle. She has not given up a run in three consecutive game appearances.
 
Henzel finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, while Millard went 2-for-4 and Hockey collected three RBI. Reigning MEC Pitcher of the Week and left hander Mallory Chapman (9-8) took the loss for Wheeling Jesuit after tossing all seven innings.
 
Game two was quite the opposite for both teams. The Cardinals scored eight runs on 11 hits while the Cavs tallied eight hits and three runs. Wheeling Jesuit wasted no time getting on the board and took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a Victoria Scott sacrifice bunt and an Ashley Ledbetter RBI double to right center field.
 
Two and a half scoreless innings of play ensued before the Cardinals claimed five runs in the bottom of the fourth, one unearned due to a fielding error. Michaela Miller first hit a RBI single and then Jackie Cramer knocked in a two RBI single to give Wheeling Jesuit a 5-0 lead. Scott picked up her second and third RBI of the game when she singled to right field for Cassie Holstein and Cramer to reach home.
 
Trailing 7-1, UVa-Wise got its first run of the game in the top of the fifth thanks to a RBI triple to left field by Henzel that scored freshman pinch runner Kelsy Padgett (Goodview, Va.). The Cavs totaled two more runs in the top of the sixth when freshman left fielder Taylor Creasey (Huddleston, Va.) hit a two RBI single to right field for junior third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) and senior designated player Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) to cross home plate.
 
The Cardinals tacked on one last run in the bottom of the sixth on a Dana Achille home run over left center field. UVa-Wise got two on in the top of the seventh and advanced the runners but left both stranded, making the 8-3 count final.
 
Junior first baseman Monica Brandts (King George, Va.) had a 3-for-3 performance while Henzel went 1-for-1 with a RBI as a pinch hitter. Senior right hander Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.), now 4-3 on the season, took the loss after 3 1/3 innings of work and four strikeouts.
 
Cramer finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI for Wheeling Jesuit as left fielder Taylor DiPerna also went 2-for-3. The Cardinals' Scott claimed three RBI and Holstein scored twice. Right hander Erin Unterbrink (4-6) pitched all seven innings and struck out eight to pick up the win for Wheeling Jesuit.
 
The Cavs are back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader at West Liberty University, first pitch of game one is slated for 12 p.m.
 
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