HICKORY, N.C. - - Softball split a pair of games on Sunday in the annual Bear Bash tournament hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne. The Cavaliers dropped the first game of the day against host Lenoir-Rhyne, 2-0, but were able to bounce back to earn a 5-4 victory over King University in the eighth inning behind a two-run walk off homer by junior catcher Lucindy Lawson.

UVa-Wise kicked off their campaign going up against the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday afternoon. Both teams faced a slow start to the game struggling to score through five innings. The Cavaliers managed to load the bases in the top of the second, but were unable to score.

The Bears would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a groundout to shortstop sending home a runner followed by another groundout to third base adding another run.

UVa-Wise picked up just four hits in the loss with senior outfielder Zoe Millard collecting three of them. Senior pitcher Taylor Brandts (0-1) took the loss for the Cavs as she allowed two runs and scattered seven runners while striking out six batters in six innings.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Brandi Parks (4-2) allowed just four hits and no runs with eight strikeouts in the win.

UVa-Wise was able to score quickly in game two against King University. The Cavs jumped out in front 2-0 in the home half of the second inning as shortstop Nikki Smith doubled home Madison David and Kaylee Jones. UVa-Wise added another run as Millard singled home Smith.

The Tornado would respond in the top of the third scoring two runs on three hits, cutting the Cavs lead to 3-2. King would single to right field to get an RBI followed by a flyout to left field that allowed the Tornado to score another run.

King's Erin Roper would steal third and score off a single to left field to tie the game up 3-3.

The game would head into an eighth inning after neither team was able to score in the seventh leaving the game tied 3-3. With the tie-breaker rule in place, King placed a runner on second in the top of the eighth with a ground ball putting the runner on third base. A fly ball would allow King to score an unearned run to put the Tornado up 4-3 over the Cavs heading into the bottom of the eighth.

UVa-Wise would place junior outfielder Shannon Bennett on second before a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Samantha Ely allowed Bennett to advance to third. Lawson would bat next for the Cavs, hammering a walk off two-run home run to right field as both Bennett and Lawson scored to give the Cavs their first win of the season.

Freshman pitcher Kailyn Spencer (1-0) was the winning pitcher for the Cavs tossing all eight innings and allowing four runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts. Millard went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Lawson and Smith both had a hit and two RBI against the Tornado. UVa-Wise finished the game with five runs, five hits, and no errors in the win.

King's Leslie Odom (1-1) allowed five runs on five hits inside the circle.

The Cavaliers will return to Wise to play their home opener against King University on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. at Cavalier Field.