SALEM, Va. – The UVa-Wise softball team defeated No. 1 North Division seed Shepherd University in the winner's bracket semifinals of the 2017 Mountain East Conference Tournament at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex Friday night. Seeded second in the South Division, the Cavaliers (33-15) earned their 12th consecutive win and second one-run victory of the day.
 
UVa-Wise will play in the winner's bracket final of the MEC Tournament for just the second time and first since 2014. That year the Cavs defeated top-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan 5-0 in a 12-inning marathon as the No. 2 seed.
 
The Cavs lined five hits and scored an unearned run on a RBI triple from freshman shortstop Nikki Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), making it back-to-back wins for the Cavs without scoring an earned run. Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Brandts (King George, Va.) picked up her likely nation-leading 14th complete game shutout of the season and allowed the Rams (36-19) just five hits.
 
Both teams left five base runners stranded but a Shepherd error led to UVa-Wise's lone run of the game in the top of the second inning. Sophomore left fielder Shannon Bennett (Covington, Va.) reached on a Ram fielding error with one out in the inning. Following another out, Smith tripled to right center field to bring Bennett home for the 1-0 lead.
 
Taylor Brandts retired the first six Shepherd batters but the Rams collected three hits in the bottom of the third. The Cavs defense held as Shepherd left two on in the frame. The Rams collected their final two hits of the game in the bottom of the fourth but both base runners would be stranded once again, before Taylor Brandts retired six of the final seven Shepherd batters in the sixth and seventh.
 
Smith finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Bennett went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.), senior first baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) and junior catcher Bridget Henzel (Toano, Va.) each collected a hit for UVa-Wise.
 
The Rams' pitcher, Lori Sturgill, had a 2-for-3 performance for Shepherd.
 
Taylor Brandts improved her record to 21-5 on the season and posted six strikeouts and walked none. Sturgill (9-4) tossed all seven innings for the Rams to take the loss after striking out five and not giving up a walk.
 
UVa-Wise will face No. 1 South seed West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket final at the Moyer Sports Complex. The Bobcats (42-6) defeated No. 3 South seed University of Charleston 7-4 in the other winner's bracket semifinal Friday night.
 
Tickets to the MEC Tournament can be purchased at the gate and are $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for students. Tournament passes ($25) are also available for entry into all of the weekend's games.
 
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